FRISCO, TEXAS- As the free agency market opens in March, a lot of discussion has surrounded Jason Witten’s future. Witten left the broadcast booth to return to the football field in 2019 to help his beloved Cowboys win a championship. Expectations were not met and No.82 is an unrestricted free agent come March 18th.
Throughout his 16-year career, Witten is the Cowboys’ all-time receiving leader with 12,977 yards but after amassing only 529 receiving yards last season, the lowest output since his rookie campaign in 2003, many expected the 37-year-old to throw in the towel.
On Tuesday night at the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award ceremony, Witten made it clear that he still has a desire to play. The Cowboys cleaned ship following the disappointing 2019 season and Witten understands that with a new sheriff in town, playing again could likely be without the familiar star on his helmet.
“ I met with Mike early on after he got the job, “ Witten told media. “ We had a really good visit, and since then, he’s been putting together his staff. So, in constant communication with Stephen and Jerry along the way. So, I think it’s my hope, I think it is our hope to kind of have those talks here soon after the combine ends and before free agency. I want to play. I think I want to explore that. I think it’s the right fit and the role. I feel like I still have something to give…I think coaching is in the future, but right now I want to play while I can. So, we will see where that takes place. Course, I want to be with the Dallas Cowboys. I will always be a Dallas Cowboy. But I also understand that that might mean, with all the changes, that I have to go somewhere else.”
