On Wednesday, one of the greatest players in Dallas Cowboys franchise history, Jason Witten, decided to officially call it a career.

The veteran tight end had a lengthy and legendary 17-season career while playing for the Cowboys. He played through multiple coaching regimes, caught passes from multiple quarterbacks, and made multiple big time plays throughout his playing days.

As a result, he will be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, down the road.

Jason Witten will retire as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

ESPN's Todd Archer reported the news of Jason Witten retiring on Wednesday afternoon. According to Archer, Witten — who briefly retired in 2018 before coming back to play for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019 — will sign a one-day contract with the Cowboys once his contract expires in March.

Jason Witten has told ESPN he is retiring from the NFL after a 17-year career. He intends to sign one-day contract and retire as a member of the Dallas Cowboys in March when his contract with the Las Vegas Raiders expires in March. He finishes his… https://t.co/BcXGA3Lk9r

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 27, 2021

“A coach once told me, ‘The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example,’” Jason Witten told ESPN's Archer.

“As I hang it up, I walk away knowing that for 17 seasons I gave it my absolute all. I am proud of my accomplishments as a football player on the field and the example I tried to set off of it. Football is a great game that has taught me many valuable lessons, and I look forward to passing on that knowledge to the next generation.”

Witten ends his professional career as not only a Dallas Cowboys great, but also as one of the best tight ends in professional football history.

Number 82 recorded 1,228 catches, 13,046 yards, and 74 touchdowns during his career. Additionally, Witten played in 271 games — the most by a tight end in NFL history.

There is no denying how important Jason Witten is to the Dallas Cowboys organization. He was a big part of unforgettable moments in the franchise's history. Witten created a lethal duo with Tony Romo while also becoming a consistent target for Dak Prescott early in the quarterback's career.

While the Hall of Fame is certainly on the horizon for Jason Witten, it appears that he is not quite ready to leave football completely. ESPN's Ed Werder suggested that Witten could pursue coaching.

During season, Jason Witten told me he enjoyed year with #Raiders, viewing it as helpful to his plan to coach. “This experience has been really good in that regard to see another philosophy, Jon (Gruden) has been good with me, and I’ve enjoyed my friendship with Mark Davis.”

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) January 27, 2021

Witten is a brilliant mind that is well-respected by his peers. Coaching is a profession where he could be very successful in.

Jason Witten ends his career as an 11-time Pro Bowler, two-time first-team All-Pro selection, and a two-time second-team All-Pro selection. He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

Thank you for everything, 82.