Ever since Jon Gruden left the Monday Night Football booth to return to the NFL to coach the Oakland Raiders, football fans have wondered who would inherit the prestigious broadcasting role. With Peyton Manning choosing to stay away from broadcasting for now, Gruden's heir seemed very much up in the air.
But a new report indicates Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten will retire and inherit the role. Though the news isn't final, it seems likely. ESPN's Chris Mortensen broke the report.
Jason Witten is planning to retire after 15 years to join ESPN's new Monday Night Football broadcast team as a lead analyst but will meet today with owner Jerry Jones before making his decision final, per sources.
Mortensen cited "two sources" who say Witten won't make his final decision until he receives Dallas owner Jerry Jones' blessing.
In a truly meta sentence, Mortensen writes, "ESPN declined comment and has had no announcement to reveal its new Monday Night Football broadcast team."
Witten is an 11-time Pro Bowler and will be remembered as one of the best tight ends in NFL history. He leads the Cowboys' all-time charts in catches (1,152) and receiving yards (12,448). He has hauled in 68 receiving touchdowns, third-most in Dallas history.
It really is impossible to choose a greatest play ever from Jason Witten's career, but this is without a doubt one of the most memorable/incredible. pic.twitter.com/CQyNeVmSob
If this report proves to be true, three major networks—CBS (Tony Romo), FOX (Troy Aikman), and ESPN (Witten)—will have longtime Cowboys as their primary color analysts.
