Longtime Cowboys TE Jason Witten confirmed in a press conference Thursday that he would be retiring from the NFL with immediate effect to take up a broadcasting career. The 35-year-old has been in Dallas since 2003, when Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells took over, and he began his retirement ceremony with an anecdote about his former coach. 

Witten recalled an incident in his rookie year, after he had suffered a broken jaw that required three plates to be placed in his face to fix. He had just rejoined the team after spending a couple of days in hospital and was in the training room when Parcells approached him with some wisdom.

“'I’m just telling you, the best ones, they find a way,'”  he recalls Parcells telling him. “'And listen to me Witten, look at me now,' he says, ‘Durability and dependability, in this league, in this business, it’s invaluable.’ And I never forgot that."

The 11-time Pro Bowler only missed one game with that injury, and it turned out to be the only game he'd miss in his entire career. 

The future Hall of Famer clearly admires his former coach, and it's safe to say the feeling is mutual. 

"Jason Witten is what pro football is supposed to be about," Parcells told ESPN's Todd Archer on Thursday. "He came to the Cowboys, got himself established very early, maximized his potential as a player and sustained very, very good play for an exceptionally long period of time and made a significant contribution to the team every year. Now he's transitioning to another career by virtue of his reputation and his affiliation with the Cowboys and the success he has had. That's what pro football is supposed to be."

Witten's production was enormous over his career, complaining 1152 receptions (fourth most all time) 12,448 yards, 68 TDs in his stellar career, and Parcells certainly thinks he'll end up in the Hall of Fame. 

"I don't think there's much doubt he's going to wind up in there," Parcells said. "His credentials are certainly worthy."

Aside from his former coach, Witten received plaudits around the league for his outstanding career. Two of his younger teammates in particular wanted to let him know how special he's been to play with in Dallas. 

The man himself also had one other former Cowboy to thank; his longtime teammate and quarterback Tony Romo, whom he's following into broadcasting straight from the NFL.