Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten has officially retired, ESPN’s Todd Archer reports.
The University of Tennessee standout has reportedly accepted a position with ESPN to commentate during “Monday Night Football.”
Witten totaled 1,152 catches for 12,448 yards and 68 touchdowns throughout his career. He ranks fourth in receptions all time behind only Jerry Rice, Tony Gonzalez and Larry Fitzgerald.
Rumors began to circulate during the NFL Draft at the end of last week that his retirement was imminent.
Throughout the course of Witten’s career, he has broken most of the Cowboys’ receiving records and now holds the top spot.
Jason Witten will be missed in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/d25FPxhA4w
— ESPN (@espn) May 3, 2018
The Cowboys drafted Witten in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft and he spent 15 years with the team making an impact almost immediately.
Jason Witten is retiring from the Dallas Cowboys and joining ESPN as an analyst for Monday Night Football, per @toddarcher.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 3, 2018
The Cowboys now have four players on their roster at the tight end position — Geoff Swaim, Rico Gathers, Dalton Shultz and Blake Jarwin. Of those four, they have a combined two career receptions for a total of 15 yards. They’re going to be tasked with filling the Texas-sized hole left in the Dallas offense without Witten.
With the departures of Witten, wide receiver Dez Bryant and Romo a year ago, the old guard has officially moved on and the franchise is now in the hands of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.