Elizabethton’s Jason Witten breaks NFL games played record at tight end

Elizabethton native Jason Witten now holds one National Football League record all to himself.

Following Sunday’s regular-season finale with Denver, Witten played in his 271st NFL game—the most contests ever played by a tight end in league history, breaking the old mark held by Hall of Fame member Tony Gonzalez.

Witten, 38, signed a one-year deal with Las Vegas to play in his 17th season following 16 years with Dallas and a one-year stint in the Monday Night Football booth on ESPN.

The Witten family is still mourning the loss of patriarch and Northeast Tennessee coaching legend Dave Rider who died last month at the age of 82.

(IMAGE: J. Locher / Associated Press)