FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys' offensive line took a major hit this week when Zack Martin informed the team of his plans to retire this offseason. His historic 11-year career officially comes to an end with a number of accolades that will have him bound for the Pro Football Hall of Fame within the next decade at most.
Admittedly, there were signs pointing to this eventual conclusion for some time. Martin's outstanding tenure also consisted of some notable injuries including a degenerative ankle problem that he pushed through for years.
Further aggravation of those ailments ended his final season early and ultimately contributed to this decision.
Nonetheless, there is a short window of remembrance and reflection on Martin's impact at The Star. While the future Hall of Famer may have not seen the marked accomplishments in the postseason, he still played an integral role on historic Cowboys lines.
Most notably, Cowboys fans will remember the unit anchored by Martin, Travis Frederick and Tyron Smith. A post on X about that pairing prompted a shocking story from Cowboys defensive back Juanyeh Thomas.
"During practice in 2023, I blitzed off the edge and tried to hit a move on Tyron. He punched the hell out my chest… My breathing ain’t been right since…" he wrote on X.
At the time, Thomas was a former undrafted signee, trying to make his way up the Cowboys' ranks. Taking such a hit certainly serves as a harsh introduction to the NFL.
That 2023 season was also Smith's final season with the Cowboys, marking the end of his own remarkable tenure with the franchise. Frederick retired in 2020 due to an autoimmune disease.
Martin's announcement marks the official end of an era for Dallas' line and sparks the urgency for the team to find the necessary replacements. Left guard Tyler Smith looks to be one capable of taking on such a role.
However, there are questions abound with the up and comers scattered across the rest of the line. Not only will the Cowboys need to solidify Martin's replacement, but ensure the prospects like Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe continue to develop heading into next season.
