The Oklahoma Sooners officially announced the hiring of tight ends coach Jason Witten via a statement from Oklahoma Athletics.
The Sooners are bringing on the former Dallas Cowboys great and future Hall of Famer to take over a tight end position that didn’t live up to expectations under former assistant Joe Jon Finley.
Witten played 17 seasons in the NFL and was one of the most prolific receiving tight ends in NFL history. He also became known for his toughness and grit during a career that included four All-Pro and 11 Pro Bowl selections. In his Cowboys career, Witten recorded 1,228 receptions for 13,046 yards, and 74 touchdowns. He finished his career as the Cowboys all-time leading receiver while being a strong blocker in the running game.
He was as durable as they come, playing fewer than 16 games just once in his NFL career.
Witten’s name brings weight to the Sooners in their recruiting pursuits at the tight end position. A leader in the football world at the high school and collegiate level, his presence gives the Sooners a boost on and off the field as they look to build upon their 2025 success.
Here’s what Brent Venables and Jason Witten had to say from the University of Oklahoma’s official release.
OU Head Coach Brent Venables
“When ,you talk about Jason Witten you start with the impeccable human being he is. That’s as a competitor, a leader, a coach, a dad, a husband. He’s one of those rare people who represents incredibly high character, integrity and excellence. He’s a tremendous communicator blessed with unbelievable interpersonal skills. That’s who he was as a leader in the locker room as a player, and you can see the impact and influence he had as a head coach at the high school level at Liberty Christian. He’s really special in that regard.
“Some of the other things that resonate with me are his humility and the type of teammate I know he’s going to be, both on our staff and with our players. He’ll be a sponge when it comes to learning what we do and how we do it. He brings so much to the table in terms of coaching, mentoring and leading, and he’s had opportunities to coach in the NFL. But we’re aligned in that our hearts are with the 18- to 23-year-olds who need you now more than ever. He’s always been about that. Through casual conversation and getting to know him over the years, that’s something that really jumped out to me and stuck with me.
“Jason has been a giant in the game of football for a long time with what he’s accomplished and represented on the field. He’s one of the best to ever do it. I’m excited about the positive impact he’ll have on our football program and all of our players.”
OU Tight Ends Coach Jason Witten
“I love football and I love teaching the game, and Oklahoma is as prestigious a college football program as there is in the country. So I’m thankful to Coach Venables for the opportunity to work together. It’s been clear to me from the outset that he’s one of the best leaders of men in football. And he has the pieces in place to compete for championships, so I’m excited to work under him and Coach (Ben) Arbuckle and with the rest of the staff. It’s a tremendous opportunity and I’m proud to be a Sooner.
“I know what the expectations and standards of Oklahoma Football are and I’m excited to lean into and embrace those. But along the way, it’s also a great privilege to positively impact young men – to help them become the best players they can be and the best men they can be. That’s one of the things I respect the most about Coach Venables – that those things aren’t mutually exclusive. You can take on the responsibility to lead men but also be highly competitive in your craft. I try to uphold those standards on and off the field.
“I’m excited to get in that tight ends room and work with OU’s great staff and players.”
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners officially announce the hiring of Jason Witten
