Witten played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2004, and has been there numerous times since. He has also been named an All-Pro several times.

In 2013, he was given the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. He has also started the Jason Witten SCORE Foundation, established in part to provide support and assistance to families and individuals affected by domestic violence.