-
Todd Archer
Frisco, Texas-Vasi two months after Zack Martin retired, another offensive liner of the Dallas Cowboys has decided to get away from the game in the eight-time left Tackle of Pro Bowl, Tyron Smith.
Smith will sign a ceremonial agreement with the Cowboys on Wednesday to retire with the team that took him to No. 9 in general in the 2011 Draft.
Smith played 12 of his 13 seasons with the cowboys, finishing his career with the New York Jets in 2024. He began the 171 career games he played and was named for the Pro Bowl of 2013-19 and 2021.
It is possible that Martin and Smith can be chosen for the Hall of Fame of Professional Soccer when they are first eligible in 2030.
Smith was a headline of day 1 that was quickly established as one of the best blockers on the side of the game. He began his career protecting Tony Romo and finished it with Aaron Rodgers like his field marshal.
In 2011, Smith became the first offensive liner selected in the first round by the cowboys since 1981 when they took Howard Richards. In the next three years, the cowboys selected the Pro Bowl Travis Frederick (2013) and Martin (2014) center in the first round, forming one of the best offensive lines of the NFL.
Smith, 34, was lost only a game in his first five seasons, but the injuries began to take its toll.
Games were lost due to knee, neck, back, hamstrings and ankles lesions. In 2020, he played in just two games before undergoing neck surgery. 13 games were lost in 2022 with an avulsion of hamstrings that required surgery during the training camp.
After reworking his contract, Smith played in 13 games in 2023 with the cowboys. He joined the jets in a one -year contract and began 10 games before finishing the year in the injured reserve with a neck injury.
At his best, Smith was the left Tackle prototype with long arms and athletics to handle the best NFL passes corridors. He began his career at the right Tackle before moving to the left Tackle in 2012 forever.
Four times in a period of five years, Smith, Frederick and Martin were appointed for the Pro Bowl together.
Frederick retired after the 2019 season fulfilled a return after missing the previous season dealing with the effects of Guillaine-Barre syndrome, an autoimmune disease that affects the nervous system.
Martin entered 2024, but knowing that it would be his last season. An ankle injury limited it to 10 games and required a termination surgery of the season.
Only Smith played for another team, but retired as a cowboy and closes the circle in one of the best offensive line trios that the cowboys have had.
