After a rough year on Monday Night Football Jason Witten is putting his broadcast career on hold to lace up his cleats for one more season.
This afternoon the Dallas Cowboys shockingly announced that Witten was going to return to the team next season.
The #Cowboys announce that TE Jason Witten has ended his retirement and is back. This is a real thing.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2019
Jason Witten has decided to end his retirement and return to the #DallasCowboys for what will be his 16th season.
Read more → https://t.co/FMCVCje25K pic.twitter.com/azFKYzn4SA
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) February 28, 2019
Via Cowboys.com
Put a stop to that Hall of Fame clock. Or better yet, just pause it for the time being.
That’s because Jason Witten has decided he isn’t done playing just yet.
Although he retired from the NFL last May, the future Hall of Famer is coming back to the Cowboys for what will be his 16th pro season. Witten played 15 years for the Cowboys from 2003-17, which included 11 Pro Bowls, the most in team history by any offensive player.
But after abruptly deciding to hang up the cleats last May and join the broadcast booth of Monday Night Football, Witten has apparently had a change of heart. He will return to the field and officially sign a contract with the Cowboys, who retained his rights when he was placed on the NFL’s Reserve/Retired list.
Apparently Witten’s desire to compete was too strong for him to ignore.
The fire inside of me to compete and play this game is just burning too strong,” Witten said in a statement. “This team has a great group of rising young stars, and I want to help them make a run at a championship. This was completely my decision, and I am very comfortable with it. I’m looking forward to getting back in the dirt.”
Of course the Internet had jokes to Witten’s departure from Monday Night Football.
Jason Witten leaving the booth and ending his retirement as a player will both improve the Cowboys AND Monday Night Football. It's a win-win!
— Kent Sterling (@KentSterling) February 28, 2019
Jason Witten’s MNF tenure pic.twitter.com/5aYcj2byYg
— Out of Bounds (@SI_outofbounds) February 28, 2019
I don’t like the Cowboys. But I have to thank them for making Monday night football better this coming season by letting Witten come back and try and play again
— Dominick the Blind💙💙 (@Envisionff) February 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/anthnychn/status/1101182099338346498
Thank god witten coming back we don’t have to hear him on Monday night football games again 😂
— DON LOGAN354 (@popaveli) February 28, 2019
Jason Witten comes out of #retirement and is returning to the +@dallascowboys. #Monday #Night #Football is back to being watchable again. 👏😃🙏🏈 #NFL pic.twitter.com/DQgb6WQx9i
— Terry Garrison 👊🏼 (@TJG3080) February 28, 2019
Jason Witten is coming out of retirement so we are saved from his play by play of Monday Night Football pic.twitter.com/SuFzUH8F7I
— WonderousATX (@wonderousATX) February 28, 2019
Andddd every person who watched Monday Night Football last season is thankful Jason Witten is gone. https://t.co/hE9GUSHH2G
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/whatdufuh/status/1101181388194279424
Along with Jason Witten the Cowboys have also signed Booger McFarland's mobile cart, saving Monday Night Football in the process.
— 12up (@12upSport) February 28, 2019