Jason Witten has had an illustrious 14 year career in the NFL, but he is now calling it quits as of May 3rd, 2018. Witten plans to jump on the ESPN Monday Night analyst team.

The 69th overall pick in the 2003 draft has had a staggering 11 Pro-Bowl selections and 2 All-Pro, and throughout the years Witten has put up monster numbers vaulting him to a healthy amount of both franchise records and NFL records. According to NFL.com, these include:

League Records

• 2nd most receptions and receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history
• 1 of only 2 TE in NFL history with 12,000 yards
• 4th most receptions in NFL history: 1,152 (as of December 31, 2017)
• Only the 2nd TE in NFL history to with 1,000+ receptions
• 1 of 3 players in NFL history with 60+ receptions in 13 consecutive seasons
• 2012 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award winner
• Most receptions in a single season by a tight end: 110 (2012)
• Most receptions in a single game by a tight end: 18 (October 28, 2012)
• Most consecutive games played by a tight end: 239 (as of conclusion of 2017 season)
• Most consecutive games started by a tight end: 229 (as of conclusion of 2017 season)

Franchise records (Dallas Cowboys)

• 1st in career receptions: 1,089 (as of December 31,2017)
• 1st in receiving yards: 12,448 (as of December 31,2017)
• Most receptions in a single game: 18 (Oct. 28, 2012)
• Most consecutive games started: 229 (as of December 31,2017)
• Most consecutive seasons with a reception, touchdown, scoring: 15 (2003-2017)
• Most games played in Dallas Cowboys History: 239 (As of December 31, 2017)

The career of the surefire Hall of Famer will forever be etched in NFL history. He entered the league and ran away with it. The man was a mismatch for any type of defenders. Linebackers would have the build to match Witten’s pure strength, but not the speed or agility. Safeties and Corners could run with Witten on routes but could very seldom prevent him from jumping his 6’6” 260 pound frame to wherever the ball was.

Jason Witten may have been a terror on the field, but, off the field, he was the complete opposite. In 2012 he was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year at the NFL Honors for all of his work with charity and NFL Play 60, a foundations that focuses on making children more active,  Jason Witten has also made leaps in the aid and attempt to ending domestic violence by pairing young children living in battered women’s homes with a positive male role model.

Witten will continue to grow as he moves into the next phase of his life in ESPN broadcasting/analysis. Just like former teammate Tony Romo, Witten’s on the field insight should allow him to provide more insight and detail to the game as it unfolds.

The Former NFL star’s life will continue on without being in the game he’s been playing about 20 years, but he’s still sticking around to stay in touch with what he loves.

Witten could go down as one of the best tight ends of all time, but how about upon his retirement we sit back, don’t compare him to others and just realize that we’ve just witnessed greatness on the gridiron.