Jason Witten joins OU as new tight ends coach

Former NFL star cites Sooners' tradition and coach Venables as key factors in his decision

Mar. 10, 2026 at 4:49pm

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Jason Witten, a future Hall of Fame NFL tight end, has joined the University of Oklahoma as the new tight ends coach. Witten, who spent the last five seasons coaching at the high school level, cited OU's storied tradition and his respect for head coach Brent Venables as major reasons for accepting the position.

Why it matters

Witten's hiring is a major coup for the Sooners, as he brings a wealth of NFL experience and a proven track record of developing talent. His presence is expected to bolster OU's tight end room and provide a valuable resource for the program's young players.

The details

Witten had multiple offers from college and NFL programs, but ultimately chose OU because of his admiration for the Sooners' tradition and his alignment with Venables' vision for the program. Venables was impressed by Witten's passion for the game and his ability to connect with players, which he believes will be crucial in rebuilding the tight end position.

  • Witten was hired as OU's new tight ends coach in March 2026.

The players

Jason Witten

A future Hall of Fame NFL tight end who has joined the University of Oklahoma as the new tight ends coach after spending the last five seasons coaching at the high school level.

Brent Venables

The head coach of the University of Oklahoma, who was instrumental in recruiting Witten to join his staff.

Ben Arbuckle

The offensive coordinator at the University of Oklahoma, who Witten felt he could learn from and be a part of.

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What they’re saying

“Simply put, it's the Oklahoma Sooners. There's not another program with more tradition and success over the years… I think shortly after visiting with coach Venables, I got on the phone with (Offensive coordinator Ben) Arbuckle. He's extremely bright. He's young. You don't get to this seat, where he's at at his age — it doesn't happen all the time. That was somebody I felt like I could learn from and be a part of.”

— Jason Witten, New tight ends coach (on3.com)

“When you go somewhere as an assistant coach, you've got to believe in the head coach's mission and his vision for the program more than anything else, and you've gotta be loyal to that. You've gotta work your butt off for that person. He's someone I have a lot of respect for without knowing him much prior to this. But somebody that over the last six weeks, I've grown even more respect for. He's prepared. He's detailed. Got great relationships with his players, with his coaches.”

— Jason Witten, New tight ends coach (on3.com)

What’s next

Witten will look to quickly get up to speed with the Sooners' program and begin working to rebuild the tight end position, which has been a point of emphasis for the team in the offseason.

The takeaway

Witten's hiring represents a major coup for the Sooners, as they have landed a future Hall of Famer with a wealth of NFL experience to help develop their tight ends. His passion for the game and ability to connect with players is expected to be a valuable asset as OU looks to return to the top of the college football landscape.