In February, the former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten got to know that he was not elected to the Hall of Fame's Class of 2026. Two months later, Witten opened up about how this experience shaped him.

The former Cowboys tight end was a finalist for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class in his first year of eligibility. He was hoping to be the 77th member. But Witten did not receive enough votes for induction.

"Going through that process, I just kept reflecting back on such a humbling experience," Witten said at the ninth annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award in Frisco, Texas, on April 16, 2026.

After 16 seasons with Dallas, Witten closed out his career with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. No tight end has appeared in more games than his 271, and only Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez sits above him in receptions and receiving yards.

Witten has yet to be inducted. But simply being present in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with other legends is an honor in itself.

"The hair on the back of your neck stands up just because that's sacred ground, and to be mentioned for that was such a huge honor", he said.

On the Hall of Fame exclusion, Witten drew a thoughtful comparison in not winning the Walter Payton Man of the Year award on his first nomination, before eventually claiming it in 2012.

This year, voters opted to prioritize first-ballot candidates, Larry Fitzgerald and Drew Brees. The path won’t get any easier next year either for Witten. There will be first-time eligible names like Cam Newton and Rob Gronkowski entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame conversation.

But an exciting chapter waits ahead for Witten.

Jason Witten Begins a New Chapter With Coaching

The Oklahoma Sooners parted ways with former tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley after five seasons in January 2026. For the college program, Witten was the next choice.

In order to bring in instant NFL credibility to the squad, Venables counted on the 11-time Pro Bowl selection. Not just for his NFL records, Witten has racked up experience as a head coach, too.

He was in charge of Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, for the past five seasons. Under him, the program went to back-to-back state championships in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, under Witten, they won the state title game.

Meanwhile, Witten is already a reason why the 2027 top tight end recruit, Ben Kolar, is considering joining Oklahoma.

“Coach Witten is a fantastic coach," Kolar told after visiting the Sooners. "His coaching just reveals the depth of his football knowledge.”

Witten is embracing his new chapter with quiet confidence and positivity, be it the transition into coaching or in dealing with the exclusion from the Hall of Fame.

What are your thoughts on how Witten is dealing with his experience? Share in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar