Jason Witten, Cowboys legend, surprises award-winning high school player and talks playoffs.
Jason Witten, former Cowboys tight stop, is a pedestrian figure in just one category despite all his accolades. He played in more NFL games than any other man at his position. He is the second-most successful tight end in terms of receiving yards, targets and receptions. In 17 seasons, he missed only one game. He was a Pro Bowler in 11 instances. He’s a no-doubt Hall of Famer.
Witten was a part of just eight playoff games in his long career. In just two of these games, Witten was victorious.
The Cowboys legend sat down with Cowboys Wire to preview the current team’s chances in Monday night’s wild-card game in Tampa, but he also talked about that gold jacket that’s proven elusive thus far for three of his former Dallas teammates.
And he introduced Cowboys fans to a Metroplex youngster who’s ready for big things at the next level, having just surprised the emerging player with the most prestigious award in high school sports.
Arnold’s surprise: “Glad to have a little piece in it!”
Jan 12, 2023 in Denton Texas USA. Jason Witten, a former Dallas Cowboys tighten, presents Jackson Arnold with 2022-23 Gatorade National football Player of the Year Award from John H. Guyer High school.
Jackson Arnold’s Wednesday began fairly routinely. Normal, that is, if you’re one of the top quarterback prospects in the nation, having guided your high school team to a 14-1 record and a spot in the state semifinals, completing 69% of your passes for over 3,400 yards and 33 touchdowns to just three interceptions.
The Denton, Texas. Senior has already graduated and will be starting classes at University of Oklahoma in the spring. Guyer High School began Wednesday with a little housekeeping business.
Or so Arnold thought.
“I thought I was going to be going through the whole signing-day process this morning and going home, hanging out with friends and family,” Arnold told Cowboys Wire. “But my head coach told me that I had to go pick up some packages from the weight room. When I walked in, there was a big Gatorade pallet and Jason Witten.”
Arnold is the 2022/23 winner of this year’s Gatorade National Player of the Year Award. The Cowboys icon was present to announce the news in person.
“It was incredible. To see him celebrating with his teammates- all of them that were signing this morning- and the fact that Gatorade kept it a surprise, for him to come in that weight room,” Witten mused. “Gatorade National Football Player of the Year, that’s a big deal. It was an honor to present it to him. I was glad to be able to play a small piece in it all.”
It wasn’t just Arnold’s on-the-field achievements that earned him the hardware over Texas commit Arch Manning and Southern Cal commit Malachi Nelson. Arnold maintained a 4.5 weighted GPA in the classroom, was a math teaching aide as a senior, and has been a member and officer in the Texas Young Men’s Service League, Lantana Chapter.
His name will now be in the same place as previous Gatorade National football Player of Year winners, such as Emmitt Smith, Peyton Manning and Kyler Murray.
“None of it’s really sunk in, to be honest. It almost feels like a dream,” Arnold said. “But being etched in along those names is extremely special.”
Witten was a coach at high school for two seasons and is now surrounded by students who are balancing academics, athletics, community work, and grades as they prepare to go to college. So he’s able to recognize the ones who get it.
“They don’t all look like this in high school football and play like that,” Witten said of Arnold. “For me, delivering this award, I knew about his accolades, I knew what type of player he was and the success he’s been able to have. More important, you want the young man. You want to observe how he conducts himself. I saw him doing some interviews, and it was about his team, about all the other things, he’s excited about the next opportunity, thanked his coaching staff. It’s great to see a great player become a great person, a good teammate, and someone that the community values. It means more. To see the next generation have that kind of perspective and maturity. He gained a lot of respect from me, and that’s what this award’s all about.”
Canton waits for teammates: ‘It gives you chill bumps.
Nov 4, 2007 in Philadelphia, PA. USA. Dallas Cowboys tight-end Jason Witten (82) is carrying the ball for a 53-yard reception after he was struck by Quintin Michaelll (not shown) and William James (not shown). Chris Gocong (57), gives chase during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: James Lang – USA TODAY Sports
Witten’s level of excellence throughout his career, which Arnold also hopes to achieve, will almost certainly land him in Canton. Maybe even in 2026, when he’ll be eligible for the first time.
Then again, that’s what DeMarcus Ware thought last year, when the Cowboys defensive end didn’t make the final cut for a bronze bust.
Ware will attempt to win again this year after being named a Hall of Fame finalist. Safety Darren Woodson will also be trying again, having been a semifinalist six more times before finally advancing to this voting cycle. Zach Thomas, too.
They all overlapped with Witten’s incredible tenure in Dallas.
“I caught Darren Woodson on the end of his career when I was coming in,” Witten recalled. “But he was a guy that set the tone for our football team. He was a great leader and a great football player. Because there were so many other guys, I think people sometimes forget how important he was to those teams. [from those teams of the 1990s] They are now in and they have gold jackets. Darren was a true class act. Early in my rookie year, I remember thinking, ‘Maybe this NFL thing’s not for me,’ because I didn’t get much separation going against him.
“Zach came at the end of his career as well, but just a class-act guy. He was always willing to play. When you’re looking at the guys as they get off the bus, you’re not picking Zach. That’s just part of who he is. And he overcame all of that.”
Witten, Woodson and Thomas only played together for two seasons. Thomas only crossed paths with Witten during the 2008 campaign. Witten and Ware were the Cowboys’ leaders for nine seasons.
“I remember seeing DeMarcus coming in as a pup, and we won a lot of ball games because of him. You see Micah Parsons doing it now, coming off the edge and what he’s bringing, but DeMarcus was just so good. Being a captain and doing life with him, I’m proud of him.”
Witten, who will be there soon– says that he doesn’t think about it when he watches his ex-teammates suffer the stress of having to have outsiders evaluate their careers as they wait for bad news.
“I have so much respect for the Hall of Fame and what that entails,” the now-40-year-old said. “But for me, I never played to think that I could join that list. It’s just a huge honor for someone to even mention that. I haven’t thought a lot about it, to be honest. These guys are my heroes. That’s a huge accomplishment, to be respected as one of the best to ever do it. My goodness, that’s an elite list. A fraternity. It gives me chill bumps even thinking about it.”
Prediction of playoff chances: “I don’t believe they have any holes.”
GREEN BAY, WI – JANUARY 11: Jason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the football past Nick Perry #53 and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix #21 of the Green Bay Packers during the 2015 NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lambeau Field on January 11, 2015 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Witten’s place in Canton will take care of itself one of these days in the future. Of more immediate concern for Cowboys Nation is the team’s first-round postseason game against the Buccaneers.
And as one of the franchise’s all-time greats, who was in 17 different locker rooms- each one unique- Witten knows what it takes this time of year, even though he only made it there a handful of times as a player.
He also believes that the 2022 roster holds the potential for success.
“You get in these type of games, and you need to be your best every step of the way. It’s win or go home,” he explained. “I know what Dak’s about, I know what Zeke’s about, I know what Zack Martin’s about, DeMarcus Lawrence. I think they’ve shown that consistently, offensively and defensively. I don’t think, if you’re evaluating the Cowboys, that you look and say, ‘Yeah, that one little area? They can get exposed there.’ Being a complete team is what I’m referencing.”
More like a complete mess in Week 18’s season-ending loss to Washington. Witten and Arnold see this as an exception rather than the beginning of a downward trend.
“They’ve been playing really good recently. Maybe not last week, but the weeks before that,” Arnold offered by way of analysis. “As Jason said, a complete team, playing together, dominating. That’s one thing the Bucs haven’t been doing; it’s kind of been up and down.”
Witten is aware that Tampa has the most experienced X factor in NFL history.
“Tom Brady,” he explained. “I know it’s not been the best season for Tampa Bay, but it’s a quarterback-driven league, and he’s a pretty special one. And if he can get on, he’s been in these moments a lot over the last 25 years. He’ll have his team ready to play.”
Witten believes the Cowboys, despite being the five-seed entering the NFC, may have overlooked their old squad, despite having lost a few of their contests.
“I don’t think they really have any holes in their football team. I think they’re primed to make a strong run. What about coming in the shadows? Sometimes that’s the best place to be.”
He did not make any predictions. Witten allowed Jackson Arnold to have the final say. It was, after all, the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year’s big day.
“I think the Cowboys are going to pull off the win this week,” said Arnold.