University of Tennessee Athletics
2002 Football Roster
Roster
Witten, Jason
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Jersey Number 1
Jason Witten
- Position:
- Tight End
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 265
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Elizabethton, Tenn.
- High School:
- Elizabethton High School
Bio
Though he was originally recruited to the University of Tennessee as a defensive end, in-state standout Jason Witten needed only three seasons with the Volunteers to cement his legacy as one of the greatest tight ends in program history. His star only grew brighter in the NFL, as he used 17 extraordinary seasons in the league to place himself amongst the most legendary tight ends ever in the sport's history. He excelled at every nuance of the position—pass catching, route running and blocking both at the line of scrimmage and downfield.
CAREER TOTALS
- Games Played: 36
- Games Started: 17
- Receptions: 68
- Receiving Yards: 797
- Average Per Reception: 11.7
- Receiving Touchdowns: 8
CAREER HIGHS
- Receptions: 6 (2x) // last at South Carolina, 11/2/02
- Receiving Yards: 78 // vs. Arkansas, 10/5/02
- Touchdowns: 1 (8x) // last at Miss. State, 11/16/02
CAREER HONORS
- Texas Sports Hall of Fame (2019)
- 2015 Pat Summitt Ignite Greatness Award
- 2013 Bart Starr Award
- 2012 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award
- 2002 First-Team All-SEC
- 2002 SEC Good Works Team
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL
- Announced his retirement from pro football on Jan. 27, 2021
- At the time of his retirement, he owned the NFL career record for most games played by a tight end, with 271
- Played 16 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before spending his final NFL season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020
- Finished his illustrious NFL career with 260 receptions for 1,273 yards (a 10.8-yard average) and 75 touchdowns
- Retired holding ownership of Dallas Cowboys franchise records for receptions (1,215), receiving yards (12,977), games played (255), consecutive games started (179) and most receptions in a single game (18 on Oct. 28, 2012)
- He was the first Dallas Cowboys tight end to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season and total at least 65 receptions in consecutive seasons; he was also the first player in franchise history to score in 16 different seasons
- Was a first-team NFL All-Pro selection in 2007 and 2010, and he earned second-team All-Pro status in 2008 and 2012
- Earned 11 Pro Bowl selections
- Received the 2012 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award and the 2013 Bart Starr Award
- Was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round (69th overall pick) of the 2003 NFL Draft
2002 - JUNIOR
- A John Mackey Award semifinalist, Witten established Tennessee's single-season receiving yardage record for tight ends while leading the team in catches, yards and touchdowns
- Started all 13 games and caught 39 passes for a team-best 493 yards (12.6-yard average per reception) and five touchdowns
- Had at least one reception in all 13 games, with multiple catches in nine contests
- Was Tennessee's representative on the SEC Good Works Team and also made the SEC Academic Honor Roll with a 3.09 GPA as a Sports Management major
- In his final game as a Vol, he caught five passes for 41 yards against Maryland in the Peach Bowl (12/31/2002)
- Capped UT's 35-17 win at Mississippi State by hauling in a 29-yard TD pass from backup quarterback James Banks in the fourth quarter (11/16/2002)
- Posted game-highs in receptions (six) and receiving yards (72) during the Vols' road win at South Carolina (11/2/2002)
- Totaled 36 yards on four catches against Alabama (10/26/2002)
- Caught a five-yard touchdown pass in UT's tough road loss at Georgia (10/12/2002)
- Had three catches for 78 yards against Arkansas (10/5/2002), highlighted by his game-winning, 25-yard TD connection with Casey Clausen in the game's sixth overtime
- Found the end zone on a 13-yard pass during the home win over Rutgers (9/28/2002)
- Racked up 61 yards on six catches against Florida (9/21/2002)
- His first touchdown catch of the season highlighted his three-catch, 55-yard day against Middle Tennessee (9/7/2002)
- Had four catches for 28 yards in the season-opening win over Wyoming in Nashville (8/31/2002)
2001 - SOPHOMORE
- Saw action in 12 games and logged a pair of starts
- Enjoyed a breakout campaign as a pass-catcher and was the team's third-leading receiver, totaling 28 catches for 293 yards and two touchdowns
- Capped the season with a team-leading, 125-yard receiving performance in Tennessee's Florida Citrus Bowl win over Michigan (1/1/2002)
- His big day against the Wolverines featured six catches and a 64-yard TD reception during which he outran nearly the entire Michigan secondary
- Hauled in an impressive 17-yard TD pass during the homecoming win against Memphis (11/20/2001)
- Led the Vols with seven catches for 91 yards during the 35-24 win over Alabama (10/20/2001), including his first career touchdown reception, a 21-yarder
- Following spring practice, we was selected as co-recipient of Tennessee football's Harvey Robinson Award, presented annually to the program's most improved offensive player
2000 - FRESHMAN
- Appeared in 12 games with two starts
- Played a key role on Tennessee's kick coverage unit
- His lone reception of the season was an 11-yarder during UT's win over Louisiana-Monroe (9/23/2000)
- He also logged three tackle assists in the Louisiana-Monroe game
- Recruited as a defensive end, he was given a crash course at the tight end position early in the fall due to a shortage of available personnel in that group
HIGH SCHOOL
- Graduated from Elizabethton High School in Elizabethton, Tennessee, where he was coached by his grandfather, Dave Rider
- Was a two-way player, starring as a four-year starter at tight end and linebacker
- Earned All-America honors as a senior in 1999 from PrepStar, Parade, Gridiron Greats, USA Today, Blue Chip Illustrated and Street & Smith
- Was named USA Today's Player of the Year for the state of Tennessee
- Listed as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Tennessee by both the Knoxville News Sentinel and the Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Was named the 1999 East Tennessee Player of the Year, Region Defensive Player of the Year and was runner-up for the 1999 Tennessee "Mr. Football" Award
- His senior statistics included 163 tackles, nine sacks, 27 tackles for loss, eight pass deflections, two interceptions, two blocked kicks, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries; as a tight end, he added 26 receptions for 345 yards and 14 touchdowns
- Finished his career with a school-record 450 tackles
- Led Elizabethton to three appearances in the state playoff semifinals
- Named to the 4A All-State team as both a junior and senior
- Also averaged a double-double on the EHS basketball team
PERSONAL
- Full name is Christopher Jason Witten
- Born May 6, 1982, in Washington, D.C.
- Son of Kim Witten
- Has two older brothers, Ryan and Shawn Witten
- Completed his UT degree in 2008, earning a bachelor's in Sports Management
FB | Braylon Staley Media Availability (9.23.25)
Tuesday, September 23
FB | Chris Brazzell II Media Availability (9.23.25)
Tuesday, September 23
FB | Rodney Garner Press Conference (9.23.25)
Tuesday, September 23
FB | Alec Abeln Press Conference (9.23.25)
Tuesday, September 23
