JASON WITTEN'S KID MIGHT BE JUST AS GOOD AS DAD

In today’s sports world, we’re seeing more and more sons of pro athletes step into the spotlight. And let’s be honest—it’s rare air when one of them actually lives up to the name on the back of the jersey, let alone surpasses it.

(CBS Sports Image) 

Baseball gave us the gold standard with Ken Griffey, Jr., who didn’t just live up to his dad’s name—he became an instant icon in his own right, 36 years ago in Seattle. And in football, we’ve seen Patrick Surtain II follow in his father’s footsteps and now possibly lap him. He’s already an All-Pro, a Defensive Player of the Year, and he might end up being the best corner in the league.

So here in North Texas… could the next one be Cooper Witten?

Compared to Griffey and Surtain, Cooper’s journey is just getting started. But if you’re looking at pedigree, performance, and potential—this five-star linebacker prospect is checking every box. And yeah, I get it… it’s a lot to be the son of Jason Witten. Gold Jacket Jason. But man… watching him tear it up at Liberty Christian, you start wondering if he might actually have a shot to reach those heights.

Cooper Witten is a 6’2”, 215-pound wrecking ball with range. He’s already getting offers from just about every major program in the country, and his social media feed looks like a who’s who of college football. Going into his junior year, he’s not just a top linebacker—he’s the top linebacker in the class of 2027.

He’s been First-Team All-State twice. He’s racked up 127 tackles and 7 interceptions playing a hybrid linebacker/safety role. And the kid can fly—he just dropped a 10.91 in the 100-meter dash running track for Liberty. That puts him in the top 10 percent of sprinters in the country. And by his senior year? We could be looking at a 10.5 guy. That’s DB speed in a linebacker’s frame.

Look, I’m not here to put any extra pressure on the young man. I hope he enjoys every second of the ride and doesn’t stress too much about chasing dad’s legacy. But watching what he’s doing—and who he’s becoming—it’s hard not to wonder:

Could Cooper Witten be the next great one?

Maybe. Just maybe… he’s got a shot at being just as good as Dad.