When Jason Witten left Liberty Christian for Oklahoma in January, another Witten still chose to stay behind. His son Cooper, a five-star linebacker prospect and one of the top recruits in the 2027 class, remained at the Argyle school for his senior season, meaning another Friday-night season on the same field where the Witten family had spent years together.
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Jason had coached Cooper and his older brother, CJ, at Liberty, but his connection to the school went back years before he ever became its head coach. By the time he took over the football program in 2021, the Witten family had already been part of the Liberty Christian community for more than 15 years, going from a 2-8 program in his first season to back-to-back state championships. And this Friday, when Cooper took the field for Liberty’s season opener, his father was back in Argyle with the family. This time, the school had a surprise waiting for them.
“Liberty Christian School is excited to announce the dedication and naming of the football field at Warrior Stadium as the Witten Family Field,” the school captioned an Instagram post. “This honor is for a family whose impact on Liberty Christian School has been felt for more than 15 years. Jason, Michelle, and the entire Witten family embraced a vision that helped strengthen not only Liberty football, but the Warrior community as a whole.”
The ceremony took place before Liberty Christian faced Midland Christian, with Witten, Michelle and their children gathered at the 50-yard line as the school unveiled “Witten” along the sidelines. The stadium itself remains Warrior Stadium; only the playing surface now carries the Witten family name. Cooper later joined his family on the field for the celebration. The gesture reflects more than Witten’s five seasons as Liberty’s head coach.
He took over a program that had gone 2–8 in his first season, then helped turn it into a state championship contender. Liberty improved to 10–2 in 2022, went a perfect 14–0 in 2023 and won the TAPPS Division II state championship before repeating as champions in 2024 after moving up to Division I. The 2023 title was particularly significant: it was Liberty’s first football championship since 2007 and its first undefeated season in school history.
That 2023 title also gave Witten something he had never experienced during his own playing career: a championship. After Liberty’s 52–10 win over Regents School of Austin in Waco, Witten lifted the state championship plaque despite having never been part of a title-winning team in high school, college or the NFL. His sons, CJ and Cooper, were on that team, making the moment even more personal.
“You know, to be able to kind of hit reset and have two boys being a part of the program,” Witten said after the win. “I have so many memories of my granddad and, to be able to experience it with my two boys and their buddies. I mean, it’s just surreal.”
Witten finished his Liberty tenure 46–15 overall, including a 44–7 mark across his final four seasons. The Warriors also reached the playoffs in his final season in 2025, finishing 8–4. Beyond the team record, Witten was named TAPPS District Coach of the Year in each of his final four seasons and earned TAPPS State Coach of the Year honors in 2023. He was also named the Dallas Cowboys’ Whataburger Coach of the Year that season.
His sons became part of that story, too. CJ emerged as a standout defensive player at Liberty, earning TAPPS All-State honors twice and finishing his high-school career with 304 tackles before continuing at Rice. Cooper followed him into the program and remained at Liberty after Jason left for Oklahoma, giving the family one more season on the field. The family honor also comes at an interesting point in Witten’s broader legacy.
Dallas has already treated him as one of the greatest players in franchise history, but he has not yet been added to the Cowboys Ring of Honor. The Cowboys’ own website identifies him as the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and games played, and says he is expected to eventually join the Ring of Honor.
Dallas has continued to celebrate Witten in other ways. The Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which he presents annually, held its ninth ceremony in 2026, while Witten was also named a finalist for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame. He ultimately fell short of induction in his first year of eligibility.
That same year brought another honor from his home state: Witten was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, recognizing his career at Tennessee and his subsequent success in the NFL. But the Liberty Christian honor rests on a different kind of connection and they made that clear.
“Through their leadership, generosity, relationships, and love for Liberty, they helped make Friday nights a gathering place for students, families, alumni, and friends, a place where Warrior spirit came alive,” the school wrote.
So, while even Cooper may move away from the school one day, the family connection would stay there forever.