Jerry Jones, owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, expressed strong belief in the potential of former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten as a future NFL coach. During his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Jones was asked about Witten’s coaching prospects after he took on a role in high school football at Argyle Liberty Christian. Without hesitation, Jones affirmed that Witten could excel as a coach at a higher level, including the NFL.
Jones compared Witten to Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who also played tight end in the NFL. He drew parallels between the two, particularly regarding their shared understanding of the physical and mental demands of football. Jones highlighted Campbell’s own famous quote about the essence of the game being “in the dirt,” suggesting that Witten possesses a similar understanding of the game’s core elements.
The Cowboys’ owner emphasized that Witten’s work ethic and leadership qualities would make him an excellent coach. He believes that Witten’s experience as a player, combined with his ability to push and inspire teammates, would translate well into a coaching role. Jones stated that there is no doubt Witten could succeed beyond high school coaching, describing him as someone with the drive and determination to thrive in a top coaching position.
Witten, who played 16 seasons in the NFL, had a storied career with the Cowboys. Over his career, he accumulated nearly 13,000 receiving yards, 1,200 receptions, and 72 touchdowns. He was named to eight Pro Bowls and earned First-team All-Pro honors twice. After retiring from the Cowboys in 2018, Witten briefly pursued a career in broadcasting, joining the Monday Night Football team before returning to play for Dallas in 2019 for one final season.
Following his retirement, Witten joined the Las Vegas Raiders for the 2020 season before officially retiring once again, this time as a Cowboy. He signed a one-day contract with Dallas to close out his career where he spent the majority of his playing days. In 2021, he transitioned to coaching and took on the head coaching position at Argyle Liberty Christian, where he has already achieved success by leading the team to a state championship.
Witten’s success at the high school level was highlighted when he guided Liberty Christian to a Division II state championship in 2023. This victory reinforced Jones’ belief in Witten’s coaching potential. Jones sees Witten’s leadership, drive, and football IQ as key assets that could help him thrive in a coaching role at higher levels of competition.
Looking forward, Jones remains confident in Witten’s future as a coach, stating that his experience as a player, combined with his natural leadership skills, makes him a strong candidate for coaching at the next level. Whether it’s the NFL or another high-profile coaching opportunity, Jones believes that Witten has all the qualities necessary to succeed in the demanding world of football
coaching.
