Mountain Empire Football Hall of fame
Inducted 2021
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Jason Witten
Jason Witten is one of the greatest, most successful, and most well-known football stars from Northeast Tennessee. Witten was a dual sport athlete (football and basketball) at Elizabethton High School. Coached by his grandfather, Hall of Fame Coach Dave Rider, Witten became a 4-year starter at the linebacker and tight end position and led the team to 3 state semi-finals. As a senior, he was selected as the USA Today Player of the Year for Tennessee, the East Tennessee Player of the Year, Region Defensive Player of the Year and runner-up for the Mr. Football, as well as being selected as an All-American and earned All-State honors in his junior and senior seasons. In his senior season alone, he recorded 163 tackles, 9 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 blocked kicks, 5 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. Witten left Elizabethton High School with the school record for career tackles (450). Witten attended the University of Tennessee with a scholarship to play football. In his freshman season, Witten primarily started the season playing on special teams and as a second-string defensive end, but by mid-season, Witten was moved to tight ends position. By his junior season, Witten racked up 493 yards from 39 receptions and scored 5 touchdowns. His yardage and receptions set single-season records at Tennessee and led the South Eastern Conference leading to an All-SEC pick and an Academic All-SEC pick. Witten declared for the NFL draft after his junior season, ending his career at Tennessee as 3rd all-time among the school’s tight ends with 68 career receptions and 4th all-time with 797 receiving yards. During his 15-year NFL career, Witten is 2nd in all-time receiving yards (12,448) and receptions (1,152) by a tight end. He was selected to 11 pro-bowls, 2 first-team All-Pros, and 2 second-team All-Pros. He also holds the record for most receptions in a season and in a single game by a tight end with 110 and 18, respectively. Witten played most of his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys (2003-2017; 2019-2019), but also played for Las Vegas Raiders (2020). During his brief periods of retirement, Witten was part of the Monday Night Football Fox Sports broadcast team. In early 2021, Witten was announced as the head coach for Liberty Christian School in Dallas-Fort Worth. In 2012, Witten won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his off-the-field community service and playing excellence. Annually, he conducts a football camp in his hometown of Elizabethton, TN for the area youth. He has been recognized for his leadership in the “NFL Play 60” campaign as well as his efforts against domestic violence with his on charity, the SCORE Foundation. |