FRISCO, Texas — Tyron Smith was 20 years previous when he was drafted within the first spherical by the Dallas Cowboys in 2011. Now 34, Smith retired as a Cowboy on Wednesday, signing a ceremonial contract to make it official after spending final season with the New York Jets.
Accidents to his again, neck, knee and ankle had lastly caught as much as him.
“After this previous 12 months and over time of accidents and issues like that, simply kinda felt prefer it was the best time to hold it up,” Smith mentioned. “I do not need to be that man down the road to the place I am struggling, and I need to be wholesome for my youngsters … The choice got here and it got here simple. I spotted how a lot I put into this NFL, and I felt happy with what I did.”
Smith first had a dialog with proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones about ending his profession as a Cowboy when nine-time Professional Bowler Zack Martin introduced his retirement in February.
“There was no query I used to be going to retire a Cowboy,” mentioned Smith, who made the Professional Bowl eight instances in his time with the Cowboys.
And there was no query Jones wished that to occur.
“It was like shedding a member of the family when he went to the Jets. Actually was,” Jones mentioned. “And I could not speak to him. I could not have small speak. We had some nice instances in his profession about issues that you possibly can speak private about … I had a troublesome time speaking selecting up that cellphone when he left us. So it was with nice pleasure that I put that previous ‘Jones,’ on this contract at the moment that would be the final one he indicators within the NFL.”
Teammates from all through Smith’s tenure have been readily available at The Star for Smith’s announcement, together with Martin, Dak Prescott, DeMarcus Ware, La’el Collins, Tyler Biadasz and Micah Parsons. Jason Garrett, Smith’s first head coach with the Cowboys, was additionally in attendance.
Smith was the primary choose of the Garrett period, and he was the primary offensive lineman the Cowboys chosen within the first spherical since 1981. Since taking Smith, the Cowboys have taken 4 different first-round offensive linemen: Travis Frederick (2013), Martin (2014), Tyler Smith (2022) and Tyler Guyton (2024).
“I can keep in mind Jason had an actual affinity for altering our sample of not utilizing that top a draft choose [on an offensive lineman],” Jones mentioned. “We often thought it was going to be a stress participant, a nook, that nature. And he simply he had such a promise.”
He performed proper sort out as a rookie earlier than shifting to left sort out for the rest of his profession.
“You take a look at his mix image and he certain does not appear like an offensive lineman,” government vp Stephen Jones mentioned. “He was lower, and he was the plain selection for us.”
Jerry Jones mentioned Smith and Martin will in the future be put within the staff’s Ring of Honor. Each gamers will probably be eligible for the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2030. When Smith met the media for the primary time in 2011 after he was drafted, he mentioned, “I believe I’ve the potential to be a Professional Bowler and be a Corridor of Famer.”
“It’s an honor … to say that you simply have been a Dallas Cowboy in your profession,” Jerry Jones mentioned. “And I need to be the primary one shaking your hand going into that NFL Corridor of Fame.”
