Tyron Smith, one of the most dominant offensive linemen forces in NFL history, has tentatively announced his retirement. Instead, he’s been an absolute long-time rockstar for the Dallas Cowboys. On Wednesday, the 34-year-old offensive tackle will officially sign with the Cowboys, appearing in the league’s virtual headquarters to do so. This announcement allows him to end his playing days with the organization that selected him ninth overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.
It didn’t take Smith long to prove that he was one of the league’s top blindside protectors. He was a Day 1 starter for the Cowboys and only missed one game through the first five years of his career. His durability and skill made him a linchpin for the team’s offense. Early on in his career, he really stepped up and allowed quarterback Tony Romo to flourish. This helped to cement his legacy as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
As the years rolled by, Smiths’ injuries started to catch up with him. He faced significant obstacles in training camp. A hamstring avulsion that required surgery forced him to miss 13 games in 2022. He only played in two games in 2020 after having neck surgery. These failures soon translated into his play and on-field availability dwindling.
Smith played for the Cowboys in all but one of his 13 seasons. Last year, he inked a one-year contract to be part of New York Jets’ ground game. He appeared in 14 games but started 10 times in the Jets’ rotation. Sadly, due to a long term neck injury he had to end his season on injured reserve. His story ended with Aaron Rodgers as his QB, a stark contrast to his early days with Romo.
During his brilliant career, Smith was a model of excellence. He never missed a single game to injury, playing and starting a total of 171 games with Pro Bowl honors from 2013-19 and 2021. He was instrumental in forging the modern Cowboys dynasty, as well his mark on the rest of the league as well.
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