Perhaps in the clearest sign that Mike McCarthy’s coaching staff is picked by the coach and not heaped on him by Dallas Cowboys ownership, Jason Witten wanted to be a part of things, but couldn’t find a seat at the table.
Instead, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, Witten is now looking into returning to the field in 2020, and that may come with an immediate reunion with long-time coordinator and head coach Jason Garrett in New York.
With no on-field coaching spot on Mike McCarthy's @dallascowboys staff, sources say Jason Witten hasn't ruled out playing in '20, and not to rule out reunion w new @Giants OC Jason Garrett. Of Witten's 16 games, his most productive game was vs. Giants.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) January 19, 2020
The Cowboys hired Lunda Wells, formerly of the New York Giants to replace Doug Nussmeier as tight ends coach in Dallas. Nussmeier has been moved to quarterbacks coach under remaining offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. With the way McCarthy has spoken about chain of command and wanting to hire his coordinators first, there must not have been enough support between Wells and Moore for Witten to use his Cowboys connections and role them into an entrance into the coaching field. At least, for now.
Witten is one of 30 free agents the Cowboys have at the moment, after coming out of a one-year retirement to play another season in Dallas. He is currently the franchise leader in receptions and receiving yards, but fell one touchdown short of tying Dez Bryant’s team record of 73 receiving touchdowns.
Witten has played 16 seasons in the league and will enter the Hall of Fame likely as soon as the five-year waiting period is over. If he were to retire again this year, he could be part of a class that includes fellow standout TE Antonio Gates, who retired last week from the Chargers organization.
A reunion with Garrett in New York would reunite the two; only four of Witten’s 16 seasons have been spent without Garrett in charge of the offense in some way. They had magical years together, but recently Witten’s lack of yards-after-the-catch ability made it an interesting choice to receive the lion’s share of snaps over Blake Jarwin, and his deterioration in blocking making his use as that style of tight end over Dalton Schultz just as questionable.
[vertical-gallery id=638027][lawrence-newsletter]