Drafted out of Tennessee in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft, the 20-year-old tight end quickly made a strong start with Dallas, beginning to reshape the position for a new generation. After a promising rookie season that earned him All-Rookie honors, Jason Witten truly shined in his second year, catching 87 passes for 980 yards and six touchdowns in 2004. That remarkable season earned him his first Pro Bowl and cemented his role as a reliable, high-volume target for the Cowboys' passing game.

That early breakout sparked an impressive ten-year period of consistent aerial output and physical superiority. From 2004 to 2014, Witten was selected for the Pro Bowl ten times within 11 seasons, missing only in 2011. He often took advantage of single coverage in the middle of the field, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards four times (2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012)—a remarkable feat for an inline tight end.

His standout individual campaigns occurred in 2007 and 2010, both earning him First-Team All-Pro honors. In 2007, Witten achieved career highs with 96 receptions for 1,145 yards, acting as Tony Romo's primary target and helping Dallas win the NFC East title. He was equally impressive in 2012, setting a then-NFL single-season record for tight ends with 110 receptions for 1,039 yards, earning Second-Team All-Pro recognition that year, complementing his 2008 honor.

Witten's consistent performance was rooted in his legendary toughness and classic tight end skills. He took great pride in his run-blocking at the point of attack, making him an every-down player who was rarely taken off the field. His reputation as an iron man was cemented in a 2007 game against Philadelphia, when he took a hard hit, lost his helmet, yet still ran another 30 yards to help set up a touchdown. Over 16 seasons with Dallas, Witten missed only one game, playing through injuries like fractured jaws, sprained ankles, and a lacerated spleen, never missing a snap.

After taking a break after the 2017 season to work in broadcasting, Witten unretired and returned to Dallas in 2019, where he caught 63 passes and scored four touchdowns. He ended his playing career with a brief season with Las Vegas in 2020, then officially retired as a Cowboy in 2021 by signing a one-day contract.

Across 16 seasons in Dallas (2003–2017, 2019), Witten appeared in a franchise-record 255 games, retiring as the organization's undisputed all-time leader in receptions (1,215) and receiving yards (12,977) while adding 60 touchdown catches.  He is likely to be enshrined in both the Cowboys Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.