Jason Witten, the legendary former Dallas Cowboys tight end, is stepping onto the field Friday night for his first game as a college tight ends coach, a move that already has his new quarterback, John Mateer, calling his presence “gold.” This marks a major step in Witten’s football journey, taking the sidelines for the Oklahoma Sooners as they host UTEP.
17 Years of NFL Wisdom Is About to Drop
Witten was hired by Oklahoma back in January, and his impact on offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle has been immediate and profound. We’re talking about a guy who played 17 years in the NFL, an 11-time Pro Bowler who ranks fourth all-time in league history with 1,228 receptions. He piled up 13,046 receiving yards and 74 touchdowns in his career, and was even a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year. Arbuckle clearly knows what he has, calling Witten “the ultimate teammate” and someone he actively encourages to speak up, even when there’s disagreement. It’s smart leadership because, as Arbuckle pointed out, Witten has “seen so much football,” and “so many different ways to do things” from all the head coaches, offensive coordinators, and position coaches he had throughout his playing days. Ignoring that kind of experience would just be naive.
From High School State Titles to College ‘Gold’
Before landing in Norman, Witten had a critical coaching stop that honed his skills for the college game. He spent five years leading Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, to a pair of state titles. That high school experience was a massive teaching tool for him, coming directly from the NFL. He learned that younger athletes “don’t learn like I do” and “don’t have the same expectation,” forcing him to adjust how he connects with and impacts players. This humble approach has earned him immediate respect. Quarterback John Mateer just gravitated to him, calling the wisdom he gets “gold” and saying he’s around Witten as much as possible. Mateer’s intentionality in seeking out Witten, and Witten’s willingness to share his wisdom, is clearly paying off for the offense. Arbuckle himself admitted he grew up a Cowboys fan, considering Witten “the greatest tight end that’s ever played the dang game,” but said you’d never get that feeling from Witten’s “unbelievable humility.”
This Friday night, all that experience, wisdom, and humble teaching will be on full display when the Sooners kick off against UTEP. It’s going to be exciting to watch how Witten’s influence continues to shape the tight ends and the entire offense.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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