It turns out that if you want to be a network’s lead analyst all you have to do is play for the Dallas Cowboys. According to several reports, Jason Witten is officially retiring after a 15-year career with the Cowboys and he will join ESPN to be the analyst for Monday Night Football.
Todd Archer broke the news early Thursday morning.
Jason Witten has informed Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones and coach Jason Garrett that he will retire, according to multiple sources, who said the tight end will accept a position with ESPN’s Monday Night football. Witten struggled with… https://t.co/yzq9WeaORL
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) May 3, 2018
Witten had himself quite a career even if it was painful to watch him run during the last couple years.
Jason Witten finishes his HOF-caliber career with 1,152 catches, ranking 4th in NFL history, trailing only Jerry Rice, Tony Gonzalez and Larry Fitzgerald.
Witten is the Cowboys' all-time leader in receiving yards (12,448) and 3rd in franchise history with 68 receiving TDs.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 3, 2018
So, Witten replaces Jon Gruden and is now the third ex-Cowboy to currently be the number one analyst on a network, joining Troy Aikman on Fox and Tony Romo on CBS.
Other former players that were rumored to be in the mix for the MNF job were quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Brett Favre.