Jason Witten’s second career as a color commentator in the Monday Night Football booth lasted just one season, as the 15-year veteran has signed a one-year, $5 million contract to return to the Dallas Cowboys.
“The fire inside of me to compete and play this game is just burning too strong,” Witten said in a statement provided by the team.
“This team has a great group of rising young stars, and I want to help them make a run at a championship. This was completely my decision, and I am very comfortable with it. I’m looking forward to getting back in the dirt.”
Witten is famous for using the term “the answers are in the dirt.” Perhaps the answers for him, at least at this point in his life, was not in the broadcast booth. Witten’s inaugural season as a broadcaster did not go quite as smoothly as former Cowboy Tony Romo’s, with the tight end often stumbling over his words when trying to provide analysis.
The return of Witten will give the Cowboys a much-needed presence in the middle of the field, something Dallas lacked last season at times. Quarterback Dak Prescott missed his safety valve and a level of comfort that Witten provided the offense.