Troy Aikman and Tony Romo Speak On Jason Witten's Broadcasting Prospects 

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From the Field to the Booth: Troy Aikman and Tony Romo on Jason Witten’s Prospects in Broadcasting

Kristi Scales | May 3, 2018 | Articles, Entertainment, The League, The Team

Jason Witten is following in the footsteps of other Cowboys’ legends that left the playing field and landed in the role of #1 analyst for a broadcast network.  Surely the success and popularity of Troy Aikman (FOX) and Tony Romo (CBS) in the broadcast booth helped pave the way for Witten as he joins ESPN’s Monday Night Football crew.  But what do Aikman and Romo think of Witten’s move from the gridiron to broadcasting?

Aikman and Romo were asked about Witten’s broadcasting prospects last Friday, the day that ESPN’s Chris Mortensen first reported that Witten was expected to retire as a player and become a network analyst.  Aikman and Romo were at a fundraising event for The Children’s Cancer Fund.

Aikman and former Cowboys QB Roger Staubach are longstanding honorary chairmen of The Children’s Cancer Fund Annual Gala (this was Aikman’s 21

year to be involved).  Romo was the event’s special “guest deejay”.  His wife, Candice, served as co-chair of Friday’s event which raised more than $1 million for pediatric oncology research and treatment programs.

Here’s what Aikman and Romo had to say about Witten’s prospects as a network analyst as well as the presence of so many former Cowboys in the network broadcast booths. Special thanks to Mark Lane of WFAA.com for sharing the quotes.

Q: What are your thoughts on Jason Witten and his situation?

AIKMAN: “On the one hand, we honor those that play the game the right way and are respectful of the game and he’s one of those guys. And we also understand you can’t play any longer. And he’s presented with a heck of an opportunity. Yeah, he could play another year, maybe another couple of years. But this opportunity to go into broadcasting and continue with a really great career post-career is pretty exciting. So, that’s a decision that he has to make as to what’s most important to him. I know from my own experience I was ready to retire when I did. I did give thought to coming back and playing. But I would tell you that, and I told him, that the life that broadcasting afforded me with my children to give me the opportunity to be with them during the week, and, yeah, you’re gone all weekend and that’s not fun, but you’re there with them during the entire off-season. It’s good. It’s better than any job for any father. And he’s a great father. So, I hope to still see him on the field, but if he decides not to do it and this is the path he chooses, I can understand that.”

Q:  Was there any advice that tipped you into making the decision?

AIKMAN: “No, because it’s such a personal deal. I think that everybody gets to that point on your own, and I was there. There was never a day when I look back and say, ‘Ah, did I retire too soon?’ My time had come. I was ready to move onto something else fortunately. But I will say that I never envisioned that I would be broadcasting 18 years later. I thought that I would do it for a couple years, figure out what I wanted to do, and move onto something else. That really didn’t happen. It’s a great life, and that’s what I told him. But I also know that when you walk away from the game, you don’t want to be at an age, you don’t want to be my age and then look back and say, ‘Wow, I wish I had done it longer because I could have.’ There comes a time when you want to play but you simply can’t. He’s kind of in that area right now.”

Q:  What will the Cowboys do at the tight end position without Jason Witten?

AIKMAN: “It’s going to have to be addressed. I think the tight end position, and I felt this way when I played, and when I played there were only a couple of guys that were really wide-receiving threats that played that position. Brent Jones and Jay Novacek and that was it. Now, there’s a lot of those guys and Jason Witten is one of them, and it’s a huge luxury to have as a quarterback. I was with Dak Prescott today coincidentally. We were shooting a little commercial. He knows that. Guys who work the middle of the field are valuable, and Jason Witten has been such a reliable guy for so many years that you just don’t replace those guys but you’ve got to put a body in there that can win at least some of the time. So, I’d be curious. I haven’t talked with anybody with the Cowboys, but there’s no doubt that the thought that he may no longer be on this team has an impact on the decisions they’re making today, tomorrow within this draft.”

Q:  When did you have that conversation with Jason Witten?

AIKMAN: “Yeah, it was recently. Talked to him today. I heard that the deal was done and so I called to congratulate him basically. He said that, no, it really was not done. So, still kind of up in the air and we’ll see. Yeah, my advice wasn’t great. Generally my advice is not very good no matter what the topic is, but because at the end of the day, my advice generally is that you know what you think is best for you. And he knows. He’s a smart guy. He’s a great father. He’s a great husband, and he knows. But I also know these jobs are hard to come by, and they just aren’t available very often. So, if you have a chance today and you don’t take it, well, tomorrow the job may not be available even though you might be ready. Those are hard decisions to make and I’m glad I’m not the one making it for him.”

Q:  Why are there so many ex-Cowboys in prominent positions as NFL analysts?

AIKMAN: “I’m not real sure. I don’t know that there’s some kind of training ground in Dallas that we don’t know about. I honestly don’t think — I think the executives would probably answer this better, have a better answer, but I don’t think the popularity of the Cowboys — I would hate to think the popularity of the Cowboys is what completely influences some of the decisions that have been made that involve a lot of former Cowboys players who move into this profession. I was the last guy that thought I would do well in television. I had zero interest in television. Went off to Europe for one year and really enjoyed it, and the next thing I know, two years later I’m hired and I’ve been doing it ever since and I really enjoy it. But it is pretty crazy. I can see where a lot of Eagles and Giants and Redskins fans aren’t thrilled by it.”

Q:  How do you see your buddy, Jason Witten, fitting into the role of game analyst?

ROMO: “Yeah, Jason Witten will do good at whatever he does. I think ultimately whatever he puts his mind to he’s going to be good at. Even if he didn’t start off good, he’s going to be good. And I actually expect him to start off really good. But it really won’t matter. It’s just a matter of time before he excels at it. Like all walks of life, he’ll figure it out.”

Q:  Did he talk to you about the concept of being in broadcasting?

ROMO: “Well, as a Cowboy fan, I think you find that Jason Witten exemplifies what you believe in as far as heart, commitment to your craft, and love of the game. He was an old school football player playing in the modern day. We’re all fans of Jason Witten.”

Q:  What is it about Cowboys players going into marquee commentating jobs?

ROMO: “Yeah, I mean Troy started the process. So, we’re just following his lead.”

Q:  Any advice for the Cowboys now that the tight end room is without Jason Witten?

ROMO: “I think that’s a big adjustment not having Jason. He does so many little things that you’ll never really appreciate until he’s gone. It happens with every player who’s a special type player. They’ll feel the effects of him not being there for sure.”

Q:  What does it mean for you and Candice to be part of this event for The Children’s Cancer Fund?

ROMO: “You just feel honored and special. Kids… I have three boys, so you know… We talk about cancer all the time but the fact that you have some boys and you picture them sometimes. It could be in a position that is sometimes unfortunate. You don’t want to think that way and it happens in real life. It would be hard. Let’s just say that. So, any time you can give back in that regard. My wife has worked really hard for months on this. It’s a great cause and feel fortunate to be here.”

Note: To see Mark Lane’s coverage of Friday’s event, which also included Roger Staubach and Dak Prescott, link to his story on WFAA.com by clicking here!

Kristi Scales is the Cowboys\' multi-award winning sideline reporter who has covered the Cowboys for 27 seasons.