Tag: Jason Witten

Lunda Wells’ retention should end Jason Witten talk, unless…

With the Dallas Cowboys retaining Lunda Wells, it should quiet any talk of the team hiring Jason Witten as a coach. | From @BenGrimaldi

When the news broke of the Cowboys retaining Lunda Wells, it was widely assumed he’d be back to coach the tight ends. And though his job title hasn’t been officially announced, keeping Wells should end the speculation that Jason Witten would wind up on the team’s staff in the immediate future.

Wells was one of the best coaches brought on by former head man Mike McCarthy and many feared losing him. The Chicago Bears tried to hire away the well-respected TE coach, but there was another reason many Cowboys fans are happy about the extension for Wells.

Retaining Wells is likely the nail in the coffin for the former TE, who would now struggle to fit the current Cowboys’ coaching staff, which seemed to be a big concern for the fanbase. While Witten was a star on the field, fans didn’t seem to love the idea of him being back as a coach with the team.

The rumors about Witten being placed on the staff by Jerry Jones and groomed to be the future head coach for organization have been running rampant since the season ended, but have since been squashed. While nothing has been official, bringing Wells back should kill any last gasp of hope of Witten’s inclusion.

However, no one would put making that type of move past Jones, and it was the main issue with the possibility of Witten being brought in for any role with the team. The thought that new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, or anybody who was being considered for the head coaching job, wasn’t in control of who he hired rightly sat the wrong way with the masses. Head coaches should be in charge of their staff, something 31 other franchises understand.

Sadly, the Cowboys’ owner hasn’t always seen it that way. Jones has hired coaches before the head coach before so it was fair to wonder if it would happen again. Jason Garrett was brought on by Jones as the offensive coordinator before Wade Phillips was hired as the head coach, and the team kept Kellen Moore as the OC when McCarthy was hired. Not an ideal way to build a coaching staff, or to embolden the new coach.

It’s hard to knock Witten as a candidate who might someday be a coach in the NFL. Currently, the four-time All-Pro, 11x Pro Bowl player, and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year is busy winning back-to-back state championships for Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas. That’s proof that Witten can coach, but it’s a large leap from high school to professional football.

No one knows if Witten would be a good coach in the NFL or not, or his level of interest, but the success of Dan Campbell with the Detroit Lions has pushed the narrative that Jones is trying to find his Campbell in Witten. And it doesn’t help that Jones has mentioned Witten’s name on numerous occasions about his ability to one day do the job successfully.

For now, Cowboys fans wait to hear what position Wells will lead, with the offensive line being an option as well as the job he held for the last five years in Dallas. Either way, Wells being back is good news for a team that needs good coaching.

It’s also appearing like it’s good news that Witten is going to be a conversation for another time. With Wells back, the coach Witten talk looks like it can be shelved with the Cowboys.

One less act in the circus, for now.

ESPN suggests Cowboys legendary $81 million player could be shock head coach candidate

Crazier things have happened, but the idea that Jason Witten would jump from the high school to the NFL coaching ranks is a wild one.

Take all NFL insider reports with a grain of salt. There are two types of sources for those who trade in league secrets; ownership and agents. Both sides always have an agenda. When ownership is looking to negotiate through the media, the insider is the person they call to disseminate the information.

The real juice normally comes from the agent side of things, but that comes with a price for the insiders. Those weird intel tweets that sound like press releases? Nine times out of 10 that’s an agent having the insider prop up a client, as a payment for dishing the dirt in another scenario.

Feeling rightly warned? Okay, good.

On ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown broadcast, a big part of the conversation was the newly available head coaching gig of the Dallas Cowboys. During a segment ahead of the final wild-card game of the weekend, insider Adam Schefter was asked to give the scoop on who was in the early running to replace Mike McCarthy.

Schefter first mentioned how McCarthy is aligned with the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints openings. He then spoke how veteran coaches Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel already have gigs and are off the table, and then mentioned how the delay in moving on from McCarthy cost them the opportunity to speak to playoff-bye Detroit Lions coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, and the Chiefs coordinators as well.

“A lot of names floating around out there. I think at some point and time they could have some interest in Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, potentially maybe Jason Witten, an all-time franchise great..”

Wait, what?

Witten, of course, is a legend as a Cowboys player. He holds the franchise records for catches (1,215), receiving yards (12,977) and is second in receiving touchdowns. Witten played 17 years in the league, 16 with the Cowboys, and is one of the most revered players of the Jerry Jones era.

He made over $81 million over the course of his playing career.

Witten has been a head coach for the last four seasons. In high school. He’s led Liberty Christian School to back-to-back state championships out of Argyle, TX. But that’s the extent of his coaching resume, which makes it an insane proposition that he’d be under serious consideration to take over as head coach of the Cowboys.

Stranger things have happened, but this smells like Schefter doing a favor to Witten’s agent, Tom Condon of CAA Sports, than a legitimate insider declaration. Witten could be looking to get himself into the NFL coaching ranks and bump his salary back closer to his playing days, but jumping directly to head coach of the Dallas Cowboys?

Imagine that uproar.

Bru McCoy named semifinalist for Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year

Tennessee wide receiver Bru McCoy named a semifinalist for the 2024 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year.

Redshirt senior Bru McCoy has appeared in all seven games for Tennessee during the 2024 football regular-season.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound wide receiver has recorded 20 receptions for 289 yards, while also totaling 15 rushing yards on two attempts.

Following Week 8, McCoy was named one of 20 semifinalists for the 2024 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year. The Witten Award honors the type of exemplary character and commitment to community, family and teammates.

McCoy returned to the field in 2024 after suffering a season-ending fracture-dislocation of his right ankle versus South Carolina on Sept. 30, 2023.

McCoy is the fourth Tennessee football player to be named a semifinalist during the award’s eight-year history (Trey Smith 2019, Hendon Hooker 2022 and Joe Milton III 2023).

Witten played tight end for Tennessee from 2000-02, while also playing 17 seasons in the National Football League for Dallas and the Raiders.

PHOTOS: Jason Witten through the years

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tennessee offers legacy 2027 prospect Cooper Witten

Tennessee and head coach Josh Heupel offer a scholarship to legacy 2027 prospect Cooper Witten.

Tennessee offered a scholarship to 2027 safety prospect Cooper Witten.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound safety is from Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas.

“After a great conversation with coach Josh Heupel, I am very blessed and grateful to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee,” Witten announced.

He is the son of former Tennessee tight end Jason Witten. Jason Witten played for the Vols from 2000-02, while also playing 17 seasons in the National Football League for Dallas and the Raiders.

He was a third-round draft pick in 2003 and was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

PHOTOS: Jason Witten through the years

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Cowboys TE Jason Witten’s record set to be broken in 2024 by Bears veteran

From @ToddBrock24f7: Bears TE Marcedes Lewis will return for a 19th NFL season. He’ll set a new record for games played by a TE, passing the legendary Witten.

Cowboys legend Jason Witten will still be the franchise’s all-time leader in game appearances when the 2024 season ends. But his current record of 271 career games played by an NFL tight end looks to be broken in late September of this season.

Marcedes Lewis has re-signed with Chicago for an incredible 19th season in the pros, it was announced Monday. The first-round draft pick back in 2006 has appeared in 268 contests since then, putting him just three back from Witten.

Assuming the 40-year-old Lewis gets into each of the Bears’ games to start the coming season, he’ll break the record in Week 4 when Chicago hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 29. There’s little reason to believe the dependable Lewis won’t stick to that timeline; he hasn’t missed a game since the 2020 season.

Lewis saw his first NFL action on September 18, 2006. For perspective on how long he’s been an active player, current Cowboys rookie Caelen Carson was four and a half years old that day. And an unknown backup quarterback named Tony Romo was still four weeks away from being thrown into a Monday night game versus the Giants in relief of Drew Bledsoe.

Lewis played for 12 years in Jacksonville, then joined the Packers in 2018, where he was coached by Mike McCarthy until the head coach was fired in December of that year. Lewis stayed in Green Bay until the conclusion of the 2022 season; this record-setting campaign will be his second year in Chicago.

If Lewis plays in all 17 of the Bears’ games, he’ll end the season in the NFL’s all-time top 20 in terms of career games played.

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Witten broke the career games record for tight ends in his final NFL tilt in 2020, his only season with Las Vegas. His appearance as a starter in the Raiders’ season finale that year gave him one more game than Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, who had retired after the 2013 season with 270 game appearances.

Witten played 255 regular-season games with the Cowboys, missing only one game- in his rookie season- over 16 years in the silver and blue. Long snapper L.P. Ladouceur is second in team history, with 253 games in the silver and blue. Of current Cowboys, guard Zack Martin is the active leader, with 152 game appearances for the franchise.

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A look back at Tennessee’s victory against Michigan in 2002 Citrus Bowl

A look back at Tennessee’s victory against Michigan in the 2002 Citrus Bowl.

No. 23 Tennessee (8-4, 4-4 SEC) will play No. 17 Iowa (10-3, 7-2 Big 10) in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST and ABC will televise the postseason matchup.

Tennessee will make its sixth appearance in the Citrus Bowl. Tennessee is 4-1 in Citrus Bowl contests.

The Vols last played in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2002, defeating Michigan, 45-17. Tennessee finished the season 12-2 (7-1 SEC).

Tennessee led, 24-10, at halftime, after opening a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.

Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen was the game’s MVP as he completed 26-of-35 passing attempts for 303 yards and three touchdowns. He also recorded two rushing touchdowns.

Donte’ Stallworth led the Vols in rushing yards (44). Travis Stephens recorded 38 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown for Tennessee.

Jason Witten recorded six receptions for 125 yards and one touchdown, while Kelley Washington finished with two touchdown receptions for the Vols.

PHOTOS: Tennessee defeats Michigan in 2002 Citrus Bowl

Jason Witten coaches sons’ high school team to undefeated championship season

Former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten led Liberty Christian School to a 14-0 championship season in his third year as head coach.

Liberty Christian (Argyle, Texas) football hoisted the championship trophy to tie a bow on a most remarkable turnaround: Led by head coach Jason Witten, the team completed its undefeated 2023 season with a championship only two years removed from a two-win season.

With the 52-10 victory over Regents (Austin, Texas) on Friday, Liberty Christian won the TAPPS Divison II state championship, the football program’s first title since 2007.

Junior running back Chase Garnett scored three touchdowns on 23 carries for 185 yards, bringing his season totals to 1,743 rushing yards and 31 total touchdowns, 29 of which came on the ground. UConn quarterback commit Cole Welliver passed for three touchdowns, bringing his season numbers to 3,082 passing yards, 50 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

“These kids have taught me so much. This is why I fell in love with the game as a kid,” Witten said in an interview with CBS News Texas after the game.

Witten, the former Dallas Cowboys tight end, has been head coach of the team for three years now. After winning two games in his first season, the same number as the year before, Liberty flipped its record to 10-2 in his second year before going undefeated in year three.

With 14 wins this season, Liberty Christian broke its record set in the 12-1 championship year in 2007, according to USA TODAY.

Witten’s sons CJ, a junior linebacker, and Cooper, a freshman defensive back and wide receiver, both played key roles on the team this year, among team leaders in tackles and tackles for loss. CJ was a team leader in sacks while Cooper had a pair of interceptions.

According to MaxPreps, Jason Witten isn’t the only championship coach in the family. His brother Shawn Witten won a pair titles at Elizabethton (Tenn.), the alma mater of the two.

Former NFL tight end Jason Witten coaching sons’ high school team with eyes on an undefeated season

Jason Witten is coaching his two sons, C.J. and Cooper, as Liberty Christian enters the semifinals with a 12-0 record on the season.

Dallas Cowboys legendary tight end Jason Witten took the helm of Liberty Christian (Argyle, Texas) as head coach in 2021, looking to improve a program that just came off a 2-7 season. Two years later, the high school is eyeing an undefeated season as it enters the semifinals with a record of 12-0.

Liberty Christian took down 9-2 Grace Community (Tyler, Texas) by a score of 56-7 on Friday behind the running of Chase Garnett, who had 95 rushing yards and four touchdowns on only nine carries (all in the first half), and a defense that held the strong Grace running game to negative yardage. Entering the game, Grace averaged nearly 230 yards on the ground per game, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram; on Friday night, the team recorded negative 39 yards.

With 12 wins on the year, Liberty Christian has experienced a massive turnaround since Witten’s first year on the job, when the team had its second two-win season in a row.

On the heels of those seasons, the team was relegated from the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Division I to Div. II before the 2022 season, according to USA TODAY. The Warriors bounced back with 10 wins and reached the quarterfinals, setting the stage for the growth this year.

Through the semifinals, the team is averaging more than 51 points per game while allowing just four points per game. The defense has pitched five shutouts and allowed more than 13 points only once.

Both of Witten’s sons play significant roles on defense. According to MaxPreps, junior linebacker C.J. Witten leads the team in tackles and sacks. At the same time, freshman defensive back Cooper Witten entered the game over the weekend with 53 tackles, three blocked field goals and two interceptions.

Witten talked to the Star-Telegram about C.J. in August, saying, “I’m not there to hold his hand, but at the same time, it’s just been very rewarding to see him grow and become a leader and gain confidence.”

According to USA TODAY, the win on Friday gave Liberty Christian the most wins it has had in a season since it went 12-1 with a championship in 2007.

Up next is a game vs. 9-2 All Saints (Fort Worth, Texas). If the Warriors can take that, they’ll get past the wins mark of that 2007 team — but they won’t be satisfied unless they can complete the season with 14 wins and a trophy.

One day until it is football time in Tennessee

Countdown to the 2023 season: One day until it is football time in Tennessee

Tennessee will kick off its 2023 football season in one day.

Tight end Jason Witten played for the Vols from 2000-02. He was a First-Team All-Southeastern Conference standout in 2002.

Witten was selected by Dallas in the third-round (No. 69 overall) of the 2003 NFL draft.

PHOTOS: Jason Witten through the years

The Vols will kick off its 2023 season Saturday versus Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is slated for noon EDT and ABC will televise the contest.

Tennessee’s home schedule has contests against Austin Peay, UTSA, South Carolina, Texas A&M, UConn, Georgia and Vanderbilt.

The Vols’ road schedule features games at Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Missouri.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel.

Tennessee’s 2023 football schedule

2023 Tennessee Vols Football Schedule: Downloadable Smartphone Wallpaper

Tyrann Mathieu thought Jimmy Graham was joining the Saints as a coach

When Tyrann Mathieu first ran across Jimmy Graham at the New Orleans Saints facility, he thought Graham was returning to coach like Ted Ginn Jr.:

Tyrann Mathieu, he’s just like us — the New Orleans Saints safety ran into 36-year-old tight end Jimmy Graham at the team facility Tuesday, he told Nola.com’s Rod Walker, and wrongly assumed that Graham had returned to coach the Saints, not catch passes against him in practice. Many fans and observers expected Graham would be signing a one-day retirement contract, or maybe joining the coaching staff as Mathieu did.

Mathieu recounted: “It was funny man, I was in the equipment room and he kind of walked by, and we had some words. You know Ted Ginn was here in the spring, and so obviously I played against both of those guys, I played with Ted in the past. As we’re talking I’m looking at (Graham) and I think he’s about to coach, I ask him what he’s coaching. He says, ‘Nah, I’m playing.’ He kind of surprised me with that one. He looks good. I definitely feel he can help us still.”

Ginn, 38, was invited to join the Saints at training camp as an assistant wide receivers coach, so it wasn’t an unfounded assumption on Mathieu’s part. We’ll see if Graham still has enough left in the tank to help the Saints offense put points on the board and win some games in the fall. That all starts with productive practices during the summer.

Graham was out of football in 2022, but there’s a precedent for late-career tight ends continuing to make an impact. In 2018, the 38-year-old Ben Watson caught 35 passes for 400 yards and a couple of scores with the Saints. Derek Carr completed a pair of touchdown passes to a 38-year-old Jason Witten with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. Graham is younger than both of them with less wear and tear on his body. Maybe he can make the most of his opportunities in scoring position with the Saints this year.

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