11-time Pro Bowl TE Jason Witten to retire with Cowboys

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Jason Witten is retiring for the second time and, likely, for good. 

The 38-year-old has told ESPN's Todd Archer that he will sign a one-day contract with the Dallas Cowboys once his Raiders deal expires in March and retire as a member of the organization that was his NFL home from the 2003 draft through the end of the 2017 season and again in 2019. 

"A coach once told me, 'The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example,'" Witten said. "As I hang it up, I walk away knowing that for 17 seasons I gave it my absolute all. I am proud of my accomplishments as a football player on the field and the example I tried to set off of it. Football is a great game that has taught me many valuable lessons, and I look forward to passing on that knowledge to the next generation." 

Witten initially retired after the 2017 campaign and spent a year as a "Monday Night Football" analyst before he rejoined the Cowboys as an active player in February 2019. The future Hall of Famer then signed with the Raiders last March and recorded 13 receptions and a pair of touchdowns in his final season. 

According to Pro-Football-Reference, Witten will retire fourth all-time with 1,228 receptions and second all-time among tight ends behind only Tony Gonzalez (1,325). Witten holds Cowboys records for career receptions and receiving yards. 

He's been linked with college and pro coaching gigs.