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Jason Witten’s retirement from football was short lived.
The former Tennessee All-American tight end and 15-year NFL veteran with the Dallas Cowboys is set to return to Dallas for a 16th season, the Cowboys announced on Thursday.
Witten joined Booger McFarland and Joe Tessitore on ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast during the 2018 NFL season.
Jason Witten has decided to end his retirement and return to the #DallasCowboys for what will be his 16th season.
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) February 28, 2019
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The Elizabethton, Tenn., native spent four seasons in Knoxville, playing for the Vols from 2000-2003.
Witten was named All-SEC during his senior season 2002 before making 11 Pro Bowl teams and first team All-Pro twice in his professional career. He also earned the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2012.
Ian Rapoport reports that the Cowboys will pay Witten five million in 2019 to come out of retirement.
The #Cowboys are giving their new/old TE Jason Witten roughly $5M to come out of retirement for the 2019 season, source said. Witten had considered it for some time, now makes the dramatic return.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2019