One of the most remarkable careers in NFL history for an interior offensive lineman is coming to a close. Zack Martin has announced his retirement after an impressive 11 seasons, as reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.

Having recently completed a six-year contract extension — which was restructured during a holdout in 2023 — Martin was about to enter free agency for the first time. Unless he changes course, he will not explore the market ahead of his 35th birthday. His retirement not only removes a key player from the Dallas Cowboys’ lineup but also leaves the team facing considerable dead money on their salary cap.

As a cornerstone of a formidable offensive line alongside fellow first-round picks Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick, Martin earned a place among the greatest players in Cowboys’ history. He received seven first-team All-Pro selections and nine Pro Bowl invitations, firmly placing him among the elite offensive linemen in NFL history. He played a critical role during the tenures of quarterbacks Tony Romo and Dak Prescott.

In 2018, Martin signed a lucrative six-year, $84 million contract, providing the Cowboys with seven years of his services. As the contract neared its end, he secured two more years of guarantees. During the 2023 holdout, the Cowboys acquiesced, guaranteeing him $36.85 million for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. As a result of his retirement, the team is expected to incur a dead money hit of $26.46 million.

Despite avoiding a salary cap crisis tied to void years with Prescott, the Cowboys still face challenges due to Martin’s departure. His contract was set to void had he not signed a new agreement before the start of the 2025 league year. While the restructuring of Martin’s deal will create complications, he has given the franchise over a decade of exceptional play, and few teams could match the wealth of talent on their offensive line during his tenure.

Martin’s seven first-team All-Pro selections tie him with Hall of Famers John Hannah and Randall McDaniel for the most ever among guards in NFL history. Among guards who began their careers in the 21st century, he leads by two selections. Only four offensive linemen — Jim Otto, Ron Mix, Anthony Munoz, and Jim Parker — have more first-team All-Pro accolades than Martin, with Munoz being the only one to have started his career post-1970 merger. A key member of the All-Decade team of the 2010s, Martin is considered a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame in 2030.

Last season, Martin experienced an ankle injury that placed him on injured reserve, marking his highest number of missed games in a single season. The only instances where he did not achieve first- or second-team All-Pro recognition were due to season-ending injuries (2020 and 2024). Nevertheless, his presence was pivotal in elevating the Cowboys’ offensive performance. A standout pick during the Jerry Jones–Will McClay era, the former No. 16 overall pick contributed to six playoff appearances. Moreover, Dallas notably saw DeMarco Murray and Ezekiel Elliott win rushing titles just three years apart, with Elliott claiming a second title in 2018. Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle also posted 1,000-yard rushing seasons during Martin’s time, although Dowdle’s achievement occurred while Martin was sidelined.

This past summer, Martin hinted that the 2024 season might be his last. While reports circulated that he was contemplating his future post-recovery from an ankle injury, it has been confirmed that he will not pursue free agency. Although Martin has enjoyed a successful career with earnings of $111.6 million, he joins Smith in having a lengthy contract that limited his potential for maximum returns. Aside from Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys have effectively secured their top players to multi-year contracts; Smith’s deal even lasted eight years. With Martin’s retirement, he becomes the final member of the Cowboys’ core offensive line from the Romo and Prescott eras to depart, following Frederick’s retirement in 2019 and Smith’s relocation to the Jets last year.

In response, Dallas has identified another strong guard by positioning Tyler Smith in Martin’s former role, despite initial plans for him to take over left tackle duties from Tyron Smith. After struggling to replace Tyron Smith and center Tyler Biadasz last season, the team now faces the challenge of replacing its most accomplished offensive lineman in franchise history.