Jason Witten Takes Over Oklahoma Offense After Arbuckle Firing
On November 2, Oklahoma named tight ends coach Jason Witten interim offensive coordinator and play-caller for the rest of the season after firing Ben Arbuckle.
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables appointed Jason Witten to lead the offense after dismissing coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Witten, who came aboard in 2026 to coach tight ends, will take over play-calling immediately and serve in the role for the remainder of the season. Venables said the team needed a change and that he believed it still had meaningful opportunities ahead.
The move follows Oklahoma’s 42-25 loss to South Carolina. The Sooners scored 15 points and gained 241 of their 359 yards in the fourth quarter, when South Carolina had backups in the game. Oklahoma is 4-4 overall and 2-3 in SEC play, and is seeking bowl eligibility.
Oklahoma's offense shares 108th place nationally in scoring, while its yardage totals put it 111th overall, 128th on the ground and 66th through the air. Former Oklahoma coordinator Kevin Wilson is expected to support Witten, who will be making a major step from coaching high school football to leading an SEC offense.
Witten led Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, for five years, serving as both head coach and offensive play-caller. His teams went 26-1 across the 2023 and 2024 seasons and averaged 50.9 points per game. Before coaching, he played 17 NFL seasons, including with the Dallas Cowboys, and earned four All-Pro selections and 11 Pro Bowl appearances.
Venables will begin looking for a permanent coordinator, the fourth of his tenure. Jeff Lebby held the position for two years before leaving to become Mississippi State’s head coach; Seth Littrell was dismissed after seven games in 2024.