One of the greatest interior offensive line careers is set to end. Zack Martin will follow through on retirement, informing the Cowboys he plans to walk away after 11 seasons, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports.
The decorated blocker played out a six-year extension, one adjusted after a 2023 holdout, and was set to hit free agency for the first time. Barring a course change, Martin will pass on testing the market ahead of an age-35 season. This will both strip another O-line constant from Dallas’ roster and tag the team with significant dead money.
Tabbing Martin as a key piece on an offensive line featuring fellow first-rounders Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick, the Cowboys saw him become one of the greatest players in franchise history. He earned seven first-team All-Pro honors and received nine Pro Bowl invites, placing the Notre Dame alum among the very best in NFL history for any O-line position. He was a vital piece for the Cowboys during their Tony Romo– and Dak Prescott-centered periods.
Martin signed a six-year, $84MM contract in 2018, giving the Cowboys seven years of control. As that contract term waned, Martin successfully secured the final two years guaranteed. The Cowboys caved during their top lineman’s 2023 holdout, giving him $36.85MM guaranteed. That covered the 2023 and ’24 seasons. As a result of Martin’s retirement, the Cowboys will be hit with $26.46MM in dead money.
The Cowboys were able to avoid a void years-driven cap crunch with Prescott, giving him a record-smashing extension hours before their Week 1 game. Martin’s money was set to void had he not re-signed with the team before the start of the 2025 league year. This retirement will not help, as it still represents a departure. Although the many restructures the Cowboys performed with Martin’s contract will put them in a bit of a bind thanks to this exit, he rewarded the team for over a decade. Few clubs had comparable options during Martin’s tenure.
Martin’s seven first-team All-Pro nods match Hall of Famers John Hannah and Randall McDaniel for most in NFL history among guards. Among guards to begin their careers in the 21st century, the former Fighting Irish tackle is two above anyone else in this area. Only four offensive linemen (Jim Otto, Ron Mix, Anthony Munoz, Jim Parker) are ahead of Martin in terms of first-team All-Pro placements. Of that quartet, only Munoz began his career after the 1970 merger. One of the most distinguished players on the 2010s’ All-Decade team, Martin will be a safe bet to book a Canton invite in 2030.
Last season, Martin landed on IR due to an ankle injury. The seven missed games matched the most of his career. The only seasons that did not end with a first- or second-team Martin All-Pro distinction involved season-ending injuries (2020, ’24). Beyond that, the Cowboys could bank on him elevating their offense. One of the Jerry Jones–Will McClay era’s top finds, the former No. 16 overall pick helped the Cowboys to six playoff berths. Dallas also accomplished a historically rare feat by seeing DeMarco Murray and Ezekiel Elliott win rushing titles three years apart, with Elliott adding a second crown in 2018 as well. Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle also produced 1,000-yard rushing seasons during Martin’s career, though the latter effort came partially while he was down with injury.
Last summer, Martin floated the possibility 2024 would be his last season. Although a rumor circulated earlier this month Martin was waiting for his injured ankle to heal before making a final decision, he will pass on testing the market. While Martin did quite well for himself ($111.6MM in career earnings), he joins Smith in seeing a lengthy contract prevent him from maximizing his value. Excepting Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys had done well to tie their standout performers to five- and six-year deals; Smith’s lasted eight years. But Martin is the last of the Cowboys’ Romo- and Prescott-era core blockers to depart. Frederick retired after the 2019 season, while Smith joined the Jets in free agency last year.
Dallas has identified another guard standout, installing Tyler Smith there after initially having planned for him to succeed Tyron Smith at LT. The team, which struggled to replace the elder Smith and center Tyler Biadasz last year, now must replace the most decorated O-lineman in its history.
Can’t stand the cowboys, but ZM is a stud! Happy retirement, you’ve earned it!
Hard to replace any player who was an all pro multiple times, much less the BEST OL in your storied franchise’s history. Martin was the ultimate pro year in and year out. Best wishes on retirement and see you in Canton in the summer of 2030!
He was great, definite HoF’er, but in no way was he better than Larry Allen
They’re both great. Allen was a lynchpin on arguably the best OL in the history of the NFL. He’s no slouch either but 6× First-team All-Pro and Maritn is a 7x First-team All-Pro. The difference is that Allen had 11 pro bowl honors, compared to Martin’s 9. Oh, and a Super Bowl ring as well.
Both are/were amazing. Shame we lost Larry Allen too soon still.
He was chosen over Johnny Manziel. 9 time Pro Bowler, 7 time All-Pro. Bullet dodged while Skip Bayless wept!
Immediate HOF. And I’m a Giants fan
Agreed.
as an eagle fan I loath the the cowboys. With that said, Zack Martin was a Hall of Famer that I did respect even though he wore that star on his helmet. It does suck for Dallas that you’re losing one of the franchises best players and to make it that much worse, they are getting screwed with the salary cap! they were already over the cap and this surely does not help!
I read today that he had 7 holding penalties in 11 seasons. That’s unreal.
I’m glad he’s calling it a career. It was hard to watch him struggle this season. One of the greatest I’ve ever seen. He deserves to walk into the hall of fame.
Zeke Rowan is also retiring.
IMAGINE
The Cowboys WITHOUT Rowan & Martin
How will they win “The Flying Fickle Finger of Fate” Award for the 25-26 season
Still bothers me the Giants drafted Beckham instead of Martin.
He’s a 1st ballot Hall of Famer
Damn shame Jerrah wasted his career. I was hoping he’d sign with KC to replace Smith and actually have a chance at a ring.