Oklahoma Promotes Jason Witten to Offensive Coordinator

Oklahoma promoted Jason Witten to offensive coordinator for the rest of the season after firing Ben Arbuckle, Yahoo Sports reported. The move followed a 23-7 upset win at Florida last weekend.

Witten joined the Oklahoma coaching staff in January as tight ends coach. For five years after his NFL playing career ended, he coached high school football at a private school near Dallas.

“Like anybody, I had goals and aspirations as a coach and was starting a little late because I played so long,” Witten told reporters on Saturday. “It would be a huge regret of mine if I didn’t take a bite at it.”

Practice Report: Brent Venables addresses the firing of Ben Arbuckle, elevation of Jason Witten, QBs — SoonerScoop

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables praised Witten’s character and leadership after making the staff change. The Sooners needed a spark after struggling offensively to start the season with high expectations in the SEC.

“He’s got all the right stuff, all the right qualities,” Venables said. “His motives are pure. He loves the game, he loves the players.”

Sources indicate to https://t.co/9IVxQS4FYu, TEs coach Jason Witten will takeover as playcaller for Oklahoma https://t.co/zSDWdRb1v6 pic.twitter.com/ZO6XeTl7u0

— Post by @SoonerScoop on X

Venables added further perspective on Witten’s impact within the locker room and team culture.

“He’s a fantastic mentor, teammate, and he sees the game with a very unique lens in my opinion,” Venables said. “He’s a really effective leader and communicator and his passion and energy and details, his readiness, his toughness, all of those things resonate in the locker room.”

While Witten spent nearly a year learning inside a major college program, Philip Rivers is preparing to take over as head coach at North Carolina State. NC State is expected to finalize the hire of the 44-year-old Wolfpack alum this week.

Oklahoma Promotes Jason Witten to Offensive Coordinator

Unlike Witten, Rivers enters the college head coaching ranks directly from high school coaching without prior experience on a college staff. Historical precedents for this path in the Football Bowl Subdivision include high-profile high school coaches like Gerry Faust at Notre Dame and Tony Sanchez at UNLV, alongside former NFL players like Trent Dilfer at UAB.

“Tonight was pretty special,” Witten said after the Florida win. “In all the years I’ve been around football, this may be the greatest moment I’ve had.”