The lesions in the back, neck, knee and ankle had finally reached it.
“After this last year and during the years of injuries and things like that, it seemed that it was the right time to hang it,” said Smith. “I don’t want to be that guy in the line where I am fighting, and I want to be healthy for my children … the decision was and was easy. I realized how much I put in this NFL, and I felt proud of what I did.”
Smith had a conversation for the first time with the owner and general manager Jerry Jones about finishing his career as a cowboy when Bowler Zack Martin announced his retirement in February.
“There was no doubt that I was going to withdraw a cowboy,” said Smith, who did the pro Bowl eight times in his time with the cowboys.
And there was no doubt that Jones wanted that to happen.
“It was like losing a family member when he went to the jets. It really was,” said Jones. “And I couldn’t talk to him. I couldn’t have a little conversation. We had some great moments in his career about things you could talk about personally … I have a hard time talking about collecting that phone when he left us. So it was with great pleasure that that old ‘Jones’ put on, in this contract today will be the last one that signs in the NFL.”
Team teammates from the entire Smith mandate were present at the star for Smith’s announcement, including Martin, Dak Prescott, Demarcus Ware, La’el Collins, Tyler Biadasz and Micah Parsons. Jason Garrett, Smith’s first chief coach with the cowboys, was also present.
Smith was the first choice of Garrett era, and it was the first offensive liner that the Cowboys selected in the first round since 1981. Since he took Smith, the cowboys have taken another four offensive liners of First Round: Travis Frederick (2013), Martin (2014), Tyler Smith (2022) and Tyler Guyton (2024).
“I remember that Jason had a real affinity to change our pattern not using that high draft selection [on an offensive lineman]”Jones said.” In general, we thought it was going to be a pressure player, a corner, that nature. And he only had that promise. ”
He played the right Tackle as a rookie before moving to the left Tackle for the rest of his career.
“You look at its combination image and surely it doesn’t seem like an offensive line,” said Executive Vice President Stephen Jones. “It was cut and it was the obvious option for us.”
Jerry Jones said Smith and Martin will one day be placed at the team’s honor. Both players will be eligible for the Professional Soccer Hall of Fame in 2030. When Smith met the media for the first time in 2011 after being recruited, he said: “I think I have the potential to be a professional bowling player and be a member of the Hall of Fame.”
“It’s an honor … to say that you were a Dallas cowboy in your career,” said Jerry Jones. “And I want to be the first shaking your hand in that NFL Hall of Fame.”
