Witten ends retirement to rejoin Cowboys

Jason Witten isn't done yet.

The 15-year pro has ended his retirement after one year and is rejoining the Dallas Cowboys, the team announced on Thursday.

"The fire inside of me to compete and play this game is just burning too strong," Witten said in a statement.

Both parties have agreed to a contract that will pay Witten a base salary of $3.5 million, and a max of $5 million for the 2019 season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

In 2017, Witten's most recent season before his brief retirement, the Cowboys posted a 9-7 record and missed the playoffs. He finished with 560 receiving yards on 63 catches with five touchdowns before hanging up his cleats to join ESPN's Monday Night Football as an analyst.

The 11-time Pro Bowler then watched as his old team won a division title and made it to the divisional round.

"This team has a great group of rising young stars, and I want to help them make a run at a championship," Witten said. "This was completely my decision, and I am very comfortable with it. I'm looking forward to getting back in the dirt."

Witten ranks first in franchise history in receptions (1,152) and receiving yards (12,448), and third in touchdown catches (68), trailing leader Dez Bryant by five scores.

He'll turn 37 years old this spring.

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