Tyron Smith Retires a Cowboy After a Great Career

One of the great offensive linemen of the last decade has officially called it a career, and with that comes the certainty that a gold jacket will be waiting for him in the near future. Tyron Smith was just 20 years old when the Dallas Cowboys selected him in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Now 34, Smith formally retired as a Cowboy on Wednesday, signing a ceremonial contract that solidified his legacy with the team after spending his final playing season with the New York Jets.

"After this past year and the accumulation of injuries over the years, I just felt like it was the right time to hang it up," Smith explained candidly. His decision was shaped not only by the wear and tear of professional football but also by a heartfelt conversation with Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones. This discussion took place shortly after nine-time Pro Bowler Zack Martin announced his retirement in February, marking the end of an era for one of the most formidable offensive lines in recent memory.

"There was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to retire a Cowboy," Smith affirmed. Throughout his illustrious career, he earned eight Pro Bowl selections while donning the Cowboys’ star—a testament to his dominance and consistency on the field. Notably, Smith was the very first pick of the Jason Garrett era and the first offensive lineman the Cowboys selected in the first round since 1981. His arrival marked a significant shift in the franchise’s draft philosophy. Since then, the Cowboys have invested in four more first-round offensive linemen: Travis Frederick (2013), Zack Martin (2014), Tyler Smith (2022), and most recently, Tyler Guyton (2024).

"I remember Jason having a real affinity for breaking our tradition of not using our highest picks on offensive linemen," Jerry Jones recalled. "Before Tyron, we usually expected to use those early picks on pressure players or cornerbacks. But Tyron showed such remarkable promise that we knew we had something special." Smith began his rookie season playing right tackle but quickly transitioned to left tackle, where he remained the cornerstone of the offensive line for the duration of his career.

Jerry Jones also made it clear that both Smith and Martin are destined for enshrinement in the Cowboys' Ring of Honor, a recognition befitting their contributions to the franchise. Both players will be eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame starting in 2030—a milestone many analysts and fans see as inevitable given their stellar careers.

Looking back to his first media appearance in 2011 after being drafted, Smith expressed a confident vision for his future: "I think I have the potential to be a Pro Bowler and be a Hall of Famer." Now, more than a decade later, that potential has been realized, and Tyron Smith’s legacy is firmly etched in the annals of not only Cowboys history but NFL history.