Player Info: TE Jason Witten Bios
Sunday, October 07, 2007 at 06:47:17 pm

PICTURES

Jason Witten #82
Tight End
6'5" 265 5/6/82
Tennessee D-3 for '03 (69th overall)
NFL: 5th Year Cowboys: 5th Year

PRO: Through four seasons, Witten has made three Pro Bowls and has emerged as one of the top tight ends in the NFL. After making 64 receptions in 2006, he became the first Cowboys tight end to make at least 60 receptions in three different seasons. He is one of just 10 tight ends in NFL history to make at least 60 receptions in three consecutive seasons. In 2006, Witten finished third on the team with 64 catches for 754 yards and one touchdown. Among tight ends, he finished second in the NFC and sixth in the NFL in catches and receiving yards. He was named to his third Pro Bowl, as an injury replacement for Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey. Among Cowboys tight ends, Witten is tied with Doug Cosbie and Billy Joe DuPree with three Pro Bowls and trails only Jay Novacek, who made five Pro Bowls. Witten already has three of the Cowboys' top-five reception totals in a season by a tight end, including his team-record 87 catches in 2004. His 66 catches in 2005 rank third and his 64 catches in 2006 are tied for fourth with Cosbie (1985). Witten also has three of the top-five receiving yard totals in a season by a tight end, including his 980 yards in 2004. His 757 yards in 2005 rank fourth and his 754 yards in 2006 rank fifth. Witten actually began his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee as a defensive end, but he switched to tight end as a freshman. In three years, he quickly became one of the best tight ends in college football and left school after his junior season. As the Cowboys' third-round pick in 2004 (69th overall), Witten got off to a slow start as a rookie, making eight receptions in his first eight games. But he turned things around in the second half of the season, when he made 27 receptions. He finished the season with 35 receptions for 347 yards and one touchdown. His career took off in 2004, when he became quarterback Vinny Testaverde's go-to receiver. His 87 catches set an NFC record for tight ends and tied for 13th-most in NFL history by a tight end; only six tight ends have made more receptions in a season. Of his 252 career receptions, 140 have gone for a first down, including 53 on third down. With his improvement as a downfield threat and as a blocker, Witten has emerged as one of the most complete tight ends in the NFL.

2006: Witten continued his emergence as one of the NFL's elite tight ends, earning his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance. Among tight ends, he ranked second in the NFC and sixth in the NFL with 64 catches and 754 yards. He became the first tight end in Cowboys history to make at least 60 receptions in three consecutive seasons, and one of just 10 tight ends in NFL history to accomplish that feat. Jay Novacek (1992, 1995) and Doug Cosbie (1984, 1985) are the only other Cowboys tight ends to record at least 60 receptions. An injury replacement to the Pro Bowl in 2006, he is among four Cowboys tight ends who have made at least three Pro Bowls. Billy Joe DuPree and Cosbie each made three Pro Bowls, and Novacek made five. In the season opener against Jacksonville (9/10), Witten made three receptions for 33 yards. A third-quarter touchdown catch was nullified because of an offensive pass interference call. In a Sunday night game against the Redskins (9/17), Witten caught four passes for 45 yards, including one for 22 yards. He returned to his college stomping grounds for the first time when Dallas faced the Titans (10/1). He caught two passes for 19 yards, with both receptions coming on the Cowboys' first scoring drive of the game. His blocking helped the Cowboys rush for 217 yards. Against Philadelphia (10/8), Witten had four catches for 51 yards, including his 200th career reception. Each of his four receptions went for a first down. He made three receptions for 17 yards in a home win against Houston (10/15) and four receptions for 72 yards in a Monday night loss to the Giants (10/23), including one for 31 yards. Three of his four catches against the Giants picked up a first down. In a win the following Sunday night in Carolina (10/29), Tony Romo's first start at quarterback, Witten made a season-high seven catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. During the Cowboys' 14-play, 71-yard drive to start the fourth quarter, he made three receptions for 55 yards, and all three receptions picked up a first down. The drive resulted in a field goal, and the Cowboys went on to score a club-record 25 points in the fourth. Witten had five catches for 50 yards in a loss to the Redskins (11/5). His 28-yard catch in the final minute put the Cowboys in position for a winning field goal, but the kick was blocked. Witten tied for the team lead with five catches for 58 yards the next week in Arizona (11/12). Three of his five catches picked up a first down, and he made a catch on three of the Cowboys' scoring drives. Against Indianapolis (11/19), Witten made three receptions for 25 yards, and the Cowboys handed the Colts their first loss of the regular season. Witten made three receptions in each of the next two games - a Thanksgiving Day win over Tampa Bay (11/23) and then a win at the Giants (12/3). Witten had 73 receiving yards against the Giants, including a career-long 42-yard reception in the final minute, setting up Martin Gramatica's winning field goal. He made four receptions for 33 yards in the Cowboys' home loss to New Orleans (12/10) and then made five receptions for 56 yards the next week in Atlanta (12/16). Four of his receptions against Atlanta came on touchdown drives, including a 13-yard reception on the final scoring drive to seal the win. Witten tied a season high with six receptions for 50 yards against Philadelphia (12/25) on Christmas Day. In the season-finale loss to Detroit (12/31), Witten made four receptions for 62 yards. All four receptions picked up a first down and came on touchdown drives. In his second career playoff game, Witten had a team-high 57 receiving yards in Seattle (1/6) on three catches. His 32-yard catch on fourth-and-2 set up a touchdown just before halftime. In the Pro Bowl, he played most of the second half, alongside teammates Tony Romo, Andre Gurode, and Flozell Adams. Witten made one reception for no gain.

2005: In being named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl, Witten became the first Dallas tight end to make at least 65 receptions in consecutive seasons. Among tight ends, he finished third in the NFC and sixth in the NFL with 66 receptions; fourth in the NFC and seventh in the NFL with 757 receiving yards; and fourth in the NFC and tied for sixth in the NFL with six touchdown receptions, which tied a career high. Against Washington (9/19), Witten finished second on the team with four receptions for 35 yards. He led the team with six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown at San Francisco (9/25), and each of his receptions went for a first down. At Oakland (10/2), he led the team with five catches for 49 yards, and four of his catches went for a first down, including three on third down. Against Philadelphia (10/9), he tied for the team lead with seven catches for 80 yards. He made five catches for 56 yards and a touchdown against the Giants (10/16). He made a 26-yard catch in overtime, which extended a drive in which Dallas kicked the winning field goal. At Seattle (10/23), he led the team with 47 yards on two catches. Against Arizona (10/30), he was second on the team with five catches for a game-high 71 yards, including a season-long 34-yard catch. Against Denver (11/24) on Thanksgiving Day, Witten tied a career high with nine catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. He made just one catch at the Giants (12/4), but it marked his 50th catch of the season. He posted a season-high 93 yards and a touchdown on seven catches against Kansas City (12/11). He then led the team with four catches for 41 yards and a touchdown at Washington (12/18). In the season finale against St. Louis (1/1/06), he was second on the team with four catches for 50 yards and his sixth touchdown of the season, which tied a career high.

2004: Witten became the first Dallas tight end to make the Pro Bowl since Jay Novacek in 1995. He made 87 receptions, which ranked first on the team, tied for seventh in the NFC, and 11th in the NFL. Among tight ends, it ranked first in the NFC and second in the NFL. Witten joined Doug Cosbie as the only tight ends to lead Dallas in receptions in a season. He posted 980 receiving yards, just one fewer than team leader Keyshawn Johnson. His receiving yards ranked 12th in the NFC and 27th in the NFL, and among tight ends, they ranked first in the NFC and second in the NFL. With one more receiving yard, Witten would have been the first tight end to lead the Cowboys in receiving yards in a season. In the home opener against Cleveland (9/19), he posted 82 receiving yards on six catches. He scored his first touchdown of the season on a 10-yard catch at Washington (9/27), helping the Cowboys win, 21-18. He then led the team with five receptions for 35 yards against the Giants (10/10). Witten's season took off at Green Bay (10/24) when he led the team with eight catches for 112 yards and a touchdown. It was the first 100-yard receiving game by a Dallas tight end since Jan. 8, 1995, when Jay Novacek had 104 yards against Green Bay in the playoffs. Witten's 42-yard touchdown catch was a career best and the longest by a Dallas tight end since Doug Cosbie's 61-yard touchdown catch at the Giants on Oct. 30, 1983. Against Detroit (10/31), Witten made a career-high nine catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. It marked the most receptions by a Dallas tight end since Novacek made 11 against Green Bay on Jan. 8, 1995. Witten gained a season-high 16.2 yards per catch at Cincinnati (11/7) and led the team with six receptions for 97 yards, including catches of 18, 25, and 33 yards. His hot streak continued against Philadelphia (11/17), when he set career highs for receiving yards (133) and touchdowns (two) and tied a career high with nine receptions. It was the first multiple-touchdown game by a Dallas tight end since Jackie Harris had two against San Francisco on Sept. 24, 2000. The 133 receiving yards were the second-most by a Dallas tight end, behind Cosbie's 159 yards at Detroit on Sept. 15, 1985. Six of Witten's nine catches went for a first down, including touchdown catches of 29 and 24 yards and catches of 22 and 25 yards. On Thanksgiving Day against Chicago (11/25), he was limited to one catch for 17 yards, but his blocking helped running back Julius Jones rush for 150 yards, marking the first 100-yard rushing game of the season for Dallas. In a come-from-behind win at Seattle (12/6), he was second on the team with five catches for 61 yards, but his biggest play came in the fourth quarter, when he recovered an onside kick at the Cowboys 43-yard line. That set up the winning touchdown drive. Against New Orleans (12/12), he led the team with four receptions for 59 yards. His first catch at Philadelphia (12/19) moved him past Cosbie's club record for receiving yards in a season (793 yards), and his second catch moved him past Novacek's club record for receptions in a season by a tight end (68 receptions). He finished the game with a team-high six receptions for 66 yards. In the season finale at the Giants (1/2/05), Witten led the team with eight catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a pass from Vinny Testaverde for a two-point conversion, which put Dallas up, 24-21, with 1:49 left. He had three catches for 40 yards on the final touchdown drive. He also converted on third down twice in a third-quarter drive, which ended with his touchdown catch.

2003: As a rookie, Witten finished with 35 receptions, which tied for 18th in the NFL among tight ends. Among rookies, the receptions were tied for fourth in the NFL and first among tight ends. Eighteen of his catches went for a first down, including nine on third down. He made his first NFL start in the season opener against Atlanta (9/7), when the Cowboys opened with two tight ends. His first catch went for 13 yards and picked up a first down in the fourth quarter. He made two receptions for 25 yards in the overtime win at the Giants (9/15), and his blocking helped the Cowboys rush for 202 yards on 41 carries (4.9 yards per carry) at the Jets (9/28). Against Arizona (10/5), Witten tied a team high with four receptions for 41 yards before suffering a fractured jaw in the fourth quarter. He had surgery to have three plates inserted in his jaw Oct. 6 and was inactive against Philadelphia (10/12). He returned to action at Detroit (10/19). Against Buffalo (11/9), he made three receptions for 24 yards, including two third-down catches that picked up a first down. In the Cowboys' 24-20 win over eventual NFC Champion Carolina (11/23), Witten tied for the team lead with six receptions for 49 yards, including a 13-yard reception on third-and-8 with 1:47 left to seal the win. On Thanksgiving Day against Miami (11/27), Witten posted season highs of eight receptions and 58 yards. It was the most receptions in a game by a Dallas tight end since Eric Bjornson had eight at San Francisco on Nov. 10, 1996. It also tied for the second-most receptions in a game by a Dallas receiver in 2003. Witten had no catches at Washington (12/14), but his blocking helped Troy Hambrick rush for 189 yards, the third-most in club history. Witten made one catch against the Giants (12/21), a season-long 36-yard touchdown catch that gave Dallas a 10-3 lead. The Cowboys went on to win, 19-3, to clinch a playoff berth. The touchdown catch was the first of Witten's career and the longest by a Dallas tight end since Cosbie's 61-yard touchdown catch at the Giants on Oct. 30, 1983. In the season finale at New Orleans (12/28), he was second on team with five catches for 45 yards. He also added his first career special teams tackle. In the wild-card game at Carolina (1/3/04), Witten tied for second on the team with four receptions for 30 yards.

COLLEGE: Witten left Tennessee after his junior season but still finished third all time among the school's tight ends with 68 career receptions and fourth all time with 797 receiving yards. As a junior, he set school records for receptions (39) and receiving yards (493) in a season by a tight end and added five touchdowns. He was a consensus All-Southeastern Conference pick after leading the conference's tight ends in receptions and receiving yards. He was also an Academic All-SEC pick. Witten played in every game as a sophomore, including three starts, and finished third on the team with 28 receptions for 293 yards (10.5 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. Because of a shortage of players, Witten was moved from defensive end to tight end as a freshman and backed up John Finlayson. He played in 11 games, including two starts.

PERSONAL: Christopher Jason Witten attended Elizabethton, Tenn., High School, where he was a consensus All-America selection at linebacker by Prep Star, Parade, Gridiron Greats, USA Today, Blue Chip Illustrated, and Street and Smith. He was also the USA Today Player of the Year for Tennessee as a senior, the East Tennessee Player of the Year, Region Defensive Player of the Year, and runner-up for the Mr. Football award after making 163 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions, two blocked kicks, five forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He also played tight end, making 26 receptions for 345 yards and 14 touchdowns. A four-year starter at linebacker and tight end, Witten led his team to the state semifinals three times and earned all-state honors as a junior and senior. He holds the school record with 450 career tackles. During the winter, he averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds per game for the basketball team. He was a member of the Cowboys' 2003 Rookie Club, which introduces rookies to community service in the Dallas area. Witten visited several non-profit organizations, including the ChildCareGroup, The Salvation Army, Children's Medical Center Dallas, and Kid's Cafe at The Voice of Hope Ministries. During the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Witten served as the Cowboys' JC Penney Take a Player to School representative, visiting the elementary school of the local winner. He and his wife, Michelle, also participated in an informal Q&A with the participants of the 2004 Cowboys Football 101 Workshop at Texas Stadium. The Wittens annually participate in the team's support of The Salvation Army Angel Tree program, providing gifts to underprivileged children for Christmas. During the 2004 and 2005 off-seasons, Witten was a celebrity escort in the Children's Cancer Fund Fashion Show and Luncheon, a fundraiser co-chaired by former Cowboys quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach. The event raises over $500,000 annually. He also walked the catwalk in Dallas' annual St. Valentine's Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Style Show in the 2005 off-season. Witten was an Arts and Sciences major at Tennessee. Michelle Witten is an emergency room nurse at Parkland Hospital in Dallas.

* Named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl (injury replacement for Jeremy Shockey) after the season, joining Jay Novacek (5 times), Doug Cosbie (3 times) and Billy Joe DuPree (3 times) as the only tight ends in club history to make multiple appearances in the Pro Bowl.
* Second in the NFC, sixth in the NFL, among tight ends with 64 receptions.
* Second in the NFC, sixth in the NFL, among tight ends with 754 receiving yards.
* Recorded 64 receptions for 754 yards. The 64 catches tied the fourth best total in club history by a tight end. The 754 receiving yards was the fifth best total in club history by a tight end. Now owns three of the top five single-season marks for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end in club history.

TOP SINGLE-SEASON RECEIVING RECORDS BY A DALLAS COWBOYS TIGHT END
---------- Receptions ----------
1. Jason Witten, 2004 - 87
2. Jay Novacek, 1992 - 68
3. Jason Witten, 2005 - 66
4(t). Doug Cosbie, 1985 - 64
4(t). Jason Witten, 2006 - 64

---------- Receiving Yards ----------
1. Jason Witten, 2004 - 980
2. Doug Cosbie, 1985 - 793
3. Doug Cosbie, 1984 - 789
4. Jason Witten, 2005 - 757
5. Jason Witten, 2006 - 754

* Had 64 receptions for the year, his third consecutive 60-catch season. He is the first tight end in club history to record 60-or-more receptions in a season three times. It is the seventh time in club history that a Dallas tight end has recorded at least 60 receptions: Jason Witten (2004-06), Jay Novacek (1992 and 1995) and Doug Cosbie (1984-85).
* With 64 catches in 2006 became the first tight end in club history with three consecutive 60-plus catch seasons. He is one of just 10 tight ends in NFL history to record more than 60 catches in three consecutive seasons.

@ Jacksonville (9/10) recorded three receptions for 33 yards, including two that picked up a first down.
vs. Washington (9/17) hauled in four passes for 45 yards, including a 22-yarder.
@ Tennessee (10/1) recorded two catches for 19 yards on the Cowboys first scoring drive of the game. That was the end of his day as a receiver, but his blocking helped the ground game pick up 217 yards on the afternoon.
@ Philadelphia (10/8) recorded his 200th career reception among his four catches for 51 yards. All four of his catches picked up first downs.
vs. Houston (10/15) logged three catches for 17 yards and also as a blocker helped the ground game rush for 170 yards on 37 carries (4.6 avg.), with Julius Jones topping the 100-yard mark for the third consecutive game with 106 yards.
vs. N.Y. Giants (10/23) recorded four catches for 72 yards, including a 31-yard grab. Three of his four catches picked up a first down, including two on third downs.
@ Carolina (10/29) had a season best six receptions for a season-high 80 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Five of his six catches picked up first downs, including two on third downs. Had three catches for 55 yards (all for first downs) on the Cowboys 14-play, 71-yard field goal drive to start the fourth quarter. That drive pulled Dallas to within one point of Carolina at 14-13.
@ Washington (11/5) added five catches for 50 yards, including a 28-yard catch that put Dallas in position for the game-winning field goal that was eventually blocked.
@ Arizona (11/12) tied for the team lead with five receptions for 58 yards. Three of his catches picked up a first down and he had a reception on three of Dallas's scoring drives.
vs. Indianapolis (11/19) hauled in three passes for 25 yards. Two of his catches picked up a first down.
vs. Tampa Bay (11/23) had three receptions for 30 yards.
@ N.Y. Giants (12/3) recorded three receptions for 73 yards, including a career-long tying 42-yard catch to get Dallas into range for Martin Gramatica's game-winning field goal in the game's final minute.
vs. New Orleans (12/10) caught four passes - second on the team - for 33 yards.
@ Atlanta (12/16) recorded five catches for 56 yards including 13-yard pass on the Cowboys final touchdown drive to seal the win. On the night, four of his five catches came on Dallas touchdown drives.
vs. Philadelphia (12/25) led the team and tied his single-game best for the year with six receptions for 50 yards.
vs. Detroit (12/31) had four receptions for 62 yards. All four catches picked up first downs and they all came on Dallas touchdown drives.
@ Seattle (1/6) recorded three receptions for a team-high 57 yards (19.0 avg.), including a game-long 32-yard catch and run on fourth-and-two to set Dallas up at the Seattle three-yard line. Two plays later Dallas scored a touchdown to take a 10-6 lead into the half.
* 39 of his 64 catches this season have gone for a first down, including 15 on third downs to convert a first down.
* Has a reception in 50 consecutive regular season games, and 59-of-63 career regular-season games.
* Currently 12th in franchise history for career receptions with 252, fourth among Dallas tight ends.
* For his career 140 of his 252 career receptions have resulted in a first down, including 53 that converted a third down.
* His 87 receptions in 2004 were the 11th best single-season total by a tight end in NFL history. Only five tight ends (Ozzie Newsome, Kellen Winslow, Tony Gonzalez, Todd Christensen and Ben Coates) had recorded more receptions in a season.