Former Cowboys legend Jason Witten lands coaching job with top SEC program

Jason Witten, former Dallas Cowboys tight end

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Matthew Couden

By Matthew Couden

Contributing Writer

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With the coaching landscapes changing significantly in college football and the NFL, former Dallas Cowboys legend Jason Witten has taken a job at one of the top programs in the NCAA's Southeastern Conference (SEC).

The former Cowboys player will serve as a tight end coach for the Oklahoma Sooners, drawing on his knowledge and experience at the position.

Witten was a tight end in the NFL for 17 seasons, with the majority of those seasons occurring in Dallas. During his time in the league, he achieved four All-Pro Team selections and 11 Pro Bowl selections.

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He officially wrapped up his career as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. Following that, Witten moved into coaching, serving as head coach of Liberty Christian School, a private college-preparatory school in Argyle, Texas, for the past several years.

Jason Witten, former Dallas Cowboys tight end

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Witten achieved a 46-15 record during his five seasons as head coach of the Liberty Christian Warriors. The school's turnaround was praised, as he was 2-8 in his first season, but ultimately coached them to Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) state championships in 2023 and 2024.

The former Cowboys legend holds the NFL record for most receptions by a tight end in a single game, recording 18 of them against the New York Giants in 2012. Along with that, Witten is the Cowboys’ record holder for receptions with 1,215 and career receiving yards with 12,977.

According to On3's report, Football Scoop's Zach Barnett first reported the news on Witten's hiring. Witten was held in high regard in league circles as someone who would become a coach at a higher level, and becoming a tight ends coach with Oklahoma marks his first official college coaching job.

He replaces former tight end coach Joe Jon Finley, joining head coach Brent Venerable's staff. That coaching staff also includes one of Witten’s former teammates, DeMarco Murray, who has been the running backs coach since 2020.

Many individuals believed that Alabama’s Bryan Ellis was a frontrunner for the Oklahoma tight ends coaching job. However, On3 indicated Witten was always the program's top pick for the position, and he officially accepted the job on Wednesday evening.

The Sooners are coming off a successful 10-3 season, including a College Football Playoff appearance. However, they failed to advance past the opening round, losing their home game to the Alabama Crimson Tide, a team they'd previously defeated in the regular season.