Biographie
Through 14 NFL seasons, Jason Witten has proved himself to be one of the top tight ends in NFL history and one of the most prolific pass catchers in Cowboys history. He is Dallas' all-time receptions leader, surpassing Michael Irvin (750) in 2012, and is second in NFL history among tight ends with 1,089. His 11,888 yards are second in Cowboys history and second in NFL tight end history. He appeared in seven consecutive Pro Bowl games for the most Pro Bowl appearances by a Cowboys tight end, a streak that ended following the 2011 season. He is tied for second in team history with 10 overall Pro Bowl appearances. For his career, Witten has the second-most 75-catch seasons (8), 80-catch seasons (6) and 90-catch seasons (4) by any tight end in NFL history. He is also tied with Tony Gonzalez for the most 90-catch, 1,000-yard seasons (4) in NFL tight end history. In front of a rookie quarterback and a rookie running back in 2016, Witten finished second on the team in receptions (69) and third in yards (673). Also on the year, Witten set club records for most games started and consecutive starts, finishing the season with 213 and 163, respectively. He is also just one-game shy of Ed Jones' club record for most games played - 224. He has played in a club-record 219 consecutive regular season games - second-longest active streak in the NFL (Shane Lechler - 238) and has started 163 consecutive regular season games - the third-longest active streak in the NFL (Eli Manning, 199 and Philip Rivers, 176). In 2015 Witten led the team in receptions for the eighth time in his career, finishing with 77 catches for 713 yards (second on the team) and three touchdowns (tied for second). He added his 10th Pro Bowl appearance as an injury replacement in 2014 to tie Mel Renfro and Larry Allen for second in team history. Witten was second on the team in receptions (64) and yards (703) and third with five scoring grabs. The 2013 season saw Witten make his ninth Pro Bowl after placing second on the squad in receptions (73), receiving yards (851) and touchdowns (eight). He added his eighth Pro Bowl appearance following a record-breaking 2012 season in which he established a league tight end record with 110 catches - just one behind the club record - and notched his fourth 1,000-yard season (1,039) - tied with Gonzalez for the most by a tight end in league history and second in team history behind Irvin's seven. He managed to accomplish all this despite being slowed through the first part of the season after suffering a lacerated spleen during the first preseason game. His 110 catches led the club for the sixth straight, seventh overall season, and were aided by a club and tight end single-game record 18 catches. For his work on and off the field, Witten was honored with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. In 2011 Witten led the team for the fifth straight, sixth overall, season with 79 catches and a team best 942 yards with five touchdowns. En route to his seventh straight all-star appearance in 2010, Witten led the team in receptions for the fourth straight season with 94 catches while notching his third career 1,000-yard season. He is also just the second league tight end to post three-or-more 90-plus catch, 1,000-yard seasons. Through his career, he has strung together 14 straight seasons with at least 50 catches, 13 straight with 60 catches, seven straight with at least 70 and six straight with 80. He became the first tight end in franchise history - 13th in league history - to top 1,000 yards in a season with his first 1,000-yard effort in 2007. Of his 1,089 career receptions, 606 have gone for first downs, including 216 on third or fourth down. A model of durability, Witten has appeared in 231 of a possible 232 games - including playoffs - missing just one game after breaking his jaw against Arizona (10/5/03) and undergoing surgery to have three plates put in on Oct. 6, 2003. Witten has at least one catch in 217-of-223 regular season games played and at least one in each of seven playoff games. He has the club-record with a catch in 130 consecutive games.
