FRISCO, Texas -- In a significant moment for the Dallas Cowboys franchise, Tyron Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle, has announced his retirement from professional football. This decision comes nearly two months after fellow offensive lineman Zack Martin also stepped away from the game. To mark this pivotal occasion, Smith is set to sign a ceremonial contract with the Cowboys on Wednesday, allowing him to retire with the team that drafted him as the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Over the course of his illustrious career, Smith played 12 of his 13 seasons with the Cowboys, concluding his time in the NFL with a stint at the New York Jets in 2024. Throughout his career, he demonstrated remarkable consistency and skill, starting in every one of the 171 games he played. His performance earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl from 2013 to 2019, and again in 2021, a testament to his status as one of the elite offensive linemen in the sport.

Looking ahead, both Smith and Martin are potential candidates for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when they become eligible in 2030, which would further cement their legacies in the sport.

Smith entered the NFL as a Day 1 starter and quickly established himself as one of the foremost blindside protectors in the league. He began his career by safeguarding quarterback Tony Romo and concluded it with another NFL star, Aaron Rodgers, as his signal-caller.

In 2011, Smith made history as the first offensive lineman selected in the first round by the Cowboys since 1981, when they drafted Howard Richards. Smiths arrival marked the beginning of a new era for the Cowboys offensive line. Over the next few years, the franchise also drafted Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick in 2013 and Martin in 2014, ultimately assembling one of the most formidable offensive line units in NFL history.

At the peak of his career, Smith was a prototype left tackle, boasting long arms and the athletic ability necessary to neutralize some of the league's most challenging pass rushers. He initially played at right tackle before making a permanent switch to left tackle in 2012, a move that solidified his role as a cornerstone of the Cowboys' offensive strategy.

While he missed only one game during his first five seasons in the league, injury challenges plagued Smith later in his career. He faced numerous setbacks due to knee, neck, back, hamstring, and ankle injuries. In 2020, Smith's season was drastically cut short as he participated in just two games before needing neck surgery. The 2022 season was similarly difficult, as he missed 13 games due to a hamstring avulsion that required additional surgery during training camp.

Despite these challenges, Smith showed resilience by reworking his contract and contributing to his team, playing in 13 games during the 2023 season with the Cowboys. He then signed a one-year deal with the Jets, starting 10 games before concluding his season on injured reserve due to a neck injury.

The legacy of Smith is intertwined with that of Frederick and Martin. Together, they were named to the Pro Bowl four times within a five-year span, showcasing their dominance in the league. Frederick retired after the 2019 season, having battled the effects of Guillain-Barr Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that significantly impacted his nervous system.

As for Martin, he entered the 2024 season aware that it would likely be his last, hampered by an ankle injury that limited him to just 10 games and necessitated season-ending surgery. Although Smith is the only one among the trio to have played for another team, his decision to retire as a Cowboy symbolizes the conclusion of a remarkable chapter in the franchises history, one that is regarded as one of the best offensive line trios the Cowboys have ever fielded.