FRISCO, Texas – 2026 will mark the first year that former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten will be eligible to be enshrined in football immortality in Canton, Ohio for the Hall of Fame. It's a moment that every football player dreams of, and is now inching closer towards being a reality for Witten.
"I haven't put a lot of thought into it, but for my name to be mentioned, the first thing that stands out to me is I get chill bumps thinking about that." Witten said at the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award ceremony.
In his 16 seasons playing for the Cowboys, Witten became the franchise's all-time leader in receptions (1,215) and yards (12,977) to go along with 72 touchdowns. He was a 11-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro, finishing his career with the second most receiving yards as a tight end in NFL history. It's absolutely a Hall of Fame resume, and Witten recognizes the hallowed ground he could soon join.
"There's this sacred ground that comes with it," Witten said. "I truly love the game of football and pro football and what it was able to teach me, I recognize how hard it is to get into that club, how special of an elite group that is, and the best of the best."
"Just to be mentioned on that list of guys that could potentially get in there, that's all I need, it's a privilege to be a part of it, we'll see how it goes."
Witten's career ended after the 2020 season, and the five years that need to pass before being eligible for Hall of Fame induction has come and gone in a flash. Witten's watched the induction ceremony every year, admiring those that enter each year.
"It flies by, you start watching the Hall of Fame and you say 'I played against that guy, I played against that guy, I can't believe he didn't get in, what an unbelievable player,'" Witten said. "I'm excited for them, those guys that have the opportunity."
In the 2025 class, one of the four inductees was former Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, a player that Witten has compared his career to.
"Obviously, Antonio was somebody I watched and went against coming in the same year," Witten said. "Our careers were very similar in a lot of ways, you're happy for them and reach out to them and congratulate them on what an accomplishment that is."
When Witten is up for induction next year, two of his teammates will be up for the Hall of Fame as well. Former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant and linebacker Sean Lee are eligible too, as the tandem hopes to reunite on the same team again one day in Canton.
"Great players, I'd be hard pressed to think that there was a better receiver over that four or five years than Dez," Witten said. "I could probably say the same thing about Sean when he was healthy and playing."
"Great teammates, proud of those guys and what they've been able to accomplish, wish them the best on that journey as well."
