Jason Witten is swapping his headset for a helmet.
After spending 2018 in the broadcast both, the 36-year-old tight end announced on Thursday (February 28) he is pausing his NFL retirement to rejoin the Dallas Cowboys for a 16th season. The deal is worth up to $5 million in 2019.
"The fire inside of me to compete and play this game is just burning too strong," the tight end said in a statement, via the Cowboys' official website: "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."
Witten departed the Cowboys on May 3rd last year and joined up - somewhat unsuccessfully - with ESPN's Monday Night Football coverage. Some commentators on social media speculated Witten eyed a return as a way out of his broadcasting duties, but Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett feels passion has driven him back to the field.
"I think [Jason Witten] felt like there was still some meat on the bone, some things he wanted to accomplish," Garrett told the Dallas Morning News: "I think he loves it and he wants to be in this environment. There's no doubt in his mind he can still play. There's no doubt in my mind he can still play."
The future Hall of Famer will return to a revamped offense that now has go-to receiver Amari Cooper in place after a mid-season trade. But the tight end room struggled in Witten's absence, with Blake Jarwin leading the position group with 27 catches for 307 yards and three touchdowns
Witten - who turns 37 before the season begins - has already amassed 1,152 catches for 12,488 yards and 68 touchdowns in the NFL. He ranks fourth all-time in NFL career receptions behind wide receiver Jerry Rice (1,549), tight end Tony Gonzalez (1,325) and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (1,303), per Pro Football Reference.
The tight end becomes the second major name this off-season to leave commentating after just one year to facilitate a return the game. Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians left CBS in January to take charge of the Tampa Buccaneers.
COVER PHOTO: The Spun
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