FRISCO, Texas – Tyron Smith was 20 years old when he was drafted in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys in 2011. Now 34, Smith retired as a cowboy on Wednesday, signing a ritual contract to make it official after spending last season with the New York Jets.
His back, neck, knees and ankle injuries finally caught up with him.
“I felt like it was a good time to hang it out a bit since the past year and years of injuries and things like that,” Smith said. “I don’t want to be that guy where I’m struggling. I want to be healthy for my kids… The decision has come, and it’s become easier.
Smith had a conversation with owner and general manager Jerry Jones about ending his cowboy career when nine-time Pro Bowler Zach Martin announced his retirement in February.
“I was definitely going to retire from Cowboy,” Smith said.
And there was no doubt that Jones wanted it to happen.
“It was like losing a family when he went to the Jets. It was really true,” Jones said. “And I couldn’t speak to him. I couldn’t speak to him a bit. We had a great time in his career in what you can personally talk about… I had a hard time picking up that phone when he left us.
Smith’s tenure teammates have appeared in the stars for Smith’s announcement, including Martin, Duck Prescott, DeMarcus Wear, Rael Collins, Tyler Biadas and Mica Parsons. Jason Garrett, the first head coach of the Cowboys, was also present.
Smith was the first pick of his time in Garrett, and he was the Cowboys’ first offensive lineman to be selected in the first round since 1981. Since taking Smith, the Cowboys have taken four other first-round offensive linemen: Travis Frederick (2013), Martin (2014), Tyler Smith (2022), and Tyler Guyton (2024).
“I remember Jason had a real affinity for changing the pattern of not using that high-draft topic. [on an offensive lineman]Jones said. And he just had such a promise. ”
He played a right tackle as a rookie before moving on to left tackle for the rest of his career.
“You look at the pictures of his combine and he certainly doesn’t look like an offensive lineman,” Executive Vice President Stephen Jones said. “He was cut and he was an obvious choice for us.”
Jerry Jones said Smith and Martin will one day be put in the team’s honor ring. Both players are eligible for the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 2030. When Smith first met the media in 2011 after being drafted, he said, “I think I could become a Pro Bowler and be in the Hall of Fame.”
“It’s an honor… Please say you were a Dallas Cowboy in your career,” Jerry Jones said. “And I want to be the first person to wave to that NFL Hall of Fame.”
