Norman, Oklahoma — Oklahoma is moving to add one of the most respected names in modern football to its coaching staff, with former NFL star Jason Witten expected to join the Sooners as tight ends coach.
Multiple reports indicate the longtime Dallas Cowboys standout has agreed to take the role, marking his first position coaching job at the college level. The hire would bring a Hall of Fame–caliber résumé into Oklahoma’s locker room ahead of the 2026 season.
Witten spent 17 seasons in the NFL, including 16 with Dallas, becoming one of the most durable and productive tight ends in league history. Drafted in the third round in 2003 out of Tennessee, he was selected to 11 Pro Bowls, earned four All-Pro honors, and captured the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012.
He remains the Cowboys’ all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, games played, and consecutive starts, while also holding the NFL single-game record for receptions by a tight end with 18.
Since stepping away from professional football, Witten has built a strong coaching résumé at the high-school level. He led Liberty Christian School in Texas to a 44–7 record across four seasons, including back-to-back state championships in 2023 and 2024, transforming the program after a difficult first year.
The move comes as Oklahoma reshapes its offensive staff under head coach Brent Venables, following the departure of former tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley. Venables enters his fifth season at the helm with the Sooners coming off a 10–3 campaign and another College Football Playoff appearance.
Oklahoma’s postseason run ended in December with a loss to Alabama, but expectations remain high as the program continues its transition into the SEC.
Witten was recently named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, adding further weight to what could become one of the most high-profile assistant coaching hires in college football this offseason.
An official announcement from the university is expected soon.
For more background on Jason Witten’s NFL career and legacy, visit ESPN’s complete profile of Jason Witten , which details his records, accolades, and Hall of Fame case.
