Cowboys’ Jason Witten makes decision to retire, join ESPN’s Monday Night Football crew

According to Todd Archer of ESPN, the 35-year-old has finally decided on his NFL future by electing to retire from the NFL after 15 seasons to make the move the broadcast booth.

 Jason Witten is retiring from the Dallas Cowboys and joining ESPN as an analyst for Monday Night Football, multiple sources told ESPN on Thursday.

This has long been the anticipated move. Witten had garnered serious interest for the job opening over the last several days. This has only grown more prominent of a possibility the further along in the process it has gone. It is a rare opportunity for to get one of the most coveted broadcasting jobs to cover the NFL. He has made appearances on various sports talk shows for several networks over the years. However, is the first real shot that Witten has to transition to the new career path after retirement.

It also brings to a close what should be a Hall of Fame-worthy career. His NFL career saw him finish second all-time in career catches and receiving yards by tight ends. He only trails behind Tony Gonzalez. He is also 21st all-time in receiving yards (12,448) and fourth in receptions (1,152). Witten is also second on the Cowboys in receptions, third in total receiving yards, and second in touchdown catches.

Witten had been set to enter the first year of his four-year, $29.5 million deal that he signed last offseason with the Cowboys. This now pushes the team in another direction at the position for the first time in well over a decade as Witten ventures into the next chapter of his life as a broadcaster.

Witten’s decision leaves the Cowboys without their veteran leader both on and off the field. This could result in Dallas’ odds to win it all next season taking a dip.