Former Tennessee legend Jason Witten is returning to the SEC, but this time as a coach. According to a report from CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Thursday afternoon, Witten is being hired as the tight ends coach for Brent Venables’ Oklahoma program.
Witten has not served as a coach at the collegiate level, but he has been the head coach at Liberty Christian High School in Texas since 2021. Witten has led the Warriors to two Texas State Championship titles.
Stating Witten’s experience at the tight end position is stating the obvious. He was an 11-time Pro Bowl tight end with the Dallas Cowboys during his 17-year NFL career and was a First Team All-SEC selection during his collegiate tenure with the Tennessee Volunteers. Witten was recently named as a finalist for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first season on the ballot.
Witten isn’t the only former NFL player on the Sooners’ coaching staff. His former teammate in Dallas, running back DeMarco Murray, has been the running backs coach in Norman since the 2020 season.
Tennessee won’t see Oklahoma during the 2026 season, barring any postseason meetings, but they will square off during the 2027 and 2029 seasons. Tennessee will travel back to Norman in 2027 and will host the Sooners in Knoxville in 2029.
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There is a more immediate connection between Tennessee and Witten’s hiring, though. The Volunteers are actively recruiting Jason’s son, Cooper Witten, in the 2027 recruiting cycle. Witten is a five-star linebacker from Argyle, TX, and the 21st-ranked player in the class, according to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings. Tennessee is one of 10 finalists for Cooper’s recruitment, alongside Oklahoma, Texas, Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas Tech, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas A&M.
With Oklahoma now having the direct tie with Cooper’s dad on staff, it could present a major turning point in his recruitment. On the other hand, though, it could lead Cooper away from the Sooners. The same type of situation is unfolding with 2028 quarterback prospect Knox Kiffin, who has already been on record saying that he wants to play against his dad, Lane, and not for him. We’ll see if that really is the reality once his recruitment starts to ramp up.
Not that it’s consequential to the ongoing landscape, but it is interesting to see the connections between Tennessee and Oklahoma evolve. The Volunteers staff includes four former Oklahoma players with head coach Josh Heupel, offensive coordinator Joey Halzle, offensive analyst Landry Jones, and offensive analyst Seth Littrell. The Sooners staff, meanwhile, now includes former Tennessee legend Jason Witten.
If he hangs around Norman for the next handful of years, VFL Jason Witten will make his return to Neyland Stadium in the fall of 2029 – but on the visitor’s sideline.
