Dan Patrick names active NFL tight end as potential target for Tennessee head coaching search
By Keith Farner
Published:
An interesting name has emerged for the Tennessee coaching search from syndicated radio host Dan Patrick.
During a segment on Tuesday, Patrick ruled out former Ole Miss and current Liberty coach Hugh Freeze because Patrick’s source believes the SEC is discouraging the hire. But Patrick did raise a Tennessee alumnus who is familiar to NFL fans.
Current Las Vegas Raider and former Dallas Cowboy and “Monday Night Football” broadcaster Jason Witten is a name to watch, according to Patrick.
“How about Jason Witten,” Patrick said. “Just a what if Jason Witten as the next head coach. Throw that out there, whether it sticks or not, no idea.”
Before the Raiders’ final game of the 2020 season, Witten discussed his football future. By that point, Witten, 38, had appeared in all 15 games of the season, and played at least 25 percent of the Raiders’ offensive snaps in every game. He’s caught only 13 passes for 69 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Witten hadn’t caught a pass for four games before he made two receptions against Miami the previous week.
“I’ve always been a firm believer to focus on the task at hand. I’ll take some time, really just give myself some organic time to reflect and think through it,” Witten said during a media session, per Pro Foootball Talk. “Certainly I know where I’m at in my career. But regardless, it’s been a great experience out here in Las Vegas with the Raiders, firs class organization. The players, the coaching staff, the management — they’ve earned my respect. Coach Gruden, I know we came up short this year, but I was proud to be a part of the football team. I’ll take some time after this season to figure that out.”
Source: Tennessee #Vols got sloppy with recruiting. They were handing recruits cash in McDonald’s bags when they visited campus.
Also a name to look out for to fill the Head Coaching vacancy: Jason Witten pic.twitter.com/HKDd02rldz
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) January 19, 2021
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
