Tyron Smith is set to retire with the Dallas Cowboys after spending his final season with the New York Jets, according to a source familiar with his plans. The 34-year-old left tackle intends to sign a ceremonial one-day contract to retire with the Cowboys, the team that drafted him in the first round 14 years ago. His selection at No. 9 overall marked a turning point for the Dallas offensive line, which became one of the NFL's best in subsequent years.
Smith's retirement follows that of right guard Zack Martin, who also retired after an 11-season career solely with the Cowboys. The two were teammates for a decade. Smith, a perennial Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, played a vital role in protecting quarterbacks like Tony Romo and Dak Prescott during his time with the Cowboys. However, his later years were plagued by injuries, leading to reduced playing time.
Over his 13 seasons with the Cowboys and one season with the Jets, Smith made 161 starts. Despite individual accolades, the team had limited postseason success during his tenure, failing to advance beyond the divisional round for nearly three decades. Smith's retirement marks the end of an era for the Cowboys' offensive line, which he helped anchor for over a decade.