KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Jason Witten, an East Tennessee native and one of the greatest tight ends in Tennessee football history, has been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Over 100 players were officially nominated for the 2026 induction class on Wednesday. Witten was one of 13 players to be nominated in their first year of eligibility.
The Elizabethton native was initially recruited to Tennessee as a defensive end before being trained as a tight end in the fall of his freshman year due to a shortage of available personnel in that group. Witten led the team in catches, yards, and touchdowns as junior in 2003, setting a program record for receiving yards in a single season by a tight end in the process.
Witten spent 16 seasons and earned 11 Pro Bowl selections with the Dallas Cowboys after being selected in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. When he retired following the 2020 season, he held the NFL career record for most games played by a tight end as well as multiple Cowboys franchise records including catches, receiving yards, and games played.
A screening committee will reduce the list to 50 nominees in October. The full 50-member selection committee will further refine the list to 25 before 15 finalists are voted ahead of the Super Bowl in February.
