Jason Witten, one of the greatest tight ends in Tennessee football history, has been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026.
Witten, who played 16 of his 17 seasons in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, was nominated in his first year of eligibility. He’s one of six tight ends nominated for the 2026 class, and the 11-time Pro Bowler is considered a strong candidate to be selected in his first try.
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Witten went on to have an incredible career as a pro after being selected 69th overall in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft by Dallas. He became the Cowboys’ all-time leader in receptions (1,215), receiving yards (12,977), games played (255), consecutive games started (179) and most receptions in a single game (18). In 2021, he retired as the NFL career record-holder for most games played by a tight end (271).
Witten recorded 260 receptions for 1,273 yards (a 10.8-yard average) and 75 touchdowns during his career, playing his final season for the Las Vegas Raiders. He was also a first-team NFL All-Pro selection in 2007 and 2010 and second-team All-Pro in 2008 and 2012.
During Witten’s third and final season with the Vols in 2002, he started all 13 games and set the program’s single-season receiving yardage record for tight ends while leading the team in receptions (39), yards (493) and touchdowns (5). He was a first-team All-SEC selection as a junior that season.
Witten was originally recruited to Tennessee as a defensive end, but was quickly integrated into the tight end group due to a lack of personnel. The Elizabethton, Tennessee, native had a breakout sophomore season as a tight end, which he capped with a 125-yard receiving performance in Tennessee’s win over Michigan in the Florida Citrus Bowl.
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His first career touchdown was scored as a sophomore in Tennessee’s win over Alabama when he led the Vols with seven catches for 91 yards.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee great Jason Witten nominated for Pro Football Hall of Fame
