Dallas Cowboys Legend Tyron Smith Announces Retirement

A longtime NFL star has hung up his cleats. After 14 seasons in the league, former Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets Offensive Tackle Tyron Smith has retired from the NFL. This ended a dominant career. Smith signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Cowboys. He played for the organization from 2011-2023. One of the league’s best left tackles for years, it is expected that Smith will get a gold jacket when he is first eligible.

Signing with the New York Jets for the 2024 season to protect Aaron Rodgers, he started in the team’s first 10 games of the season before landing on injured reserve with a neck injury. This forced him to miss the rest of the regular season. But when he played, he still showed flashes of his old self. He was only called for one holding and two false starts.

Tyron Smith Career Summary

A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Smith is often considered one of the best left tackles of the modern era. A three-year starter at USC from 2008-2010, Smith’s strong college career led to the Cowboys drafting him No. 9 overall in 2011. During his tenure in Dallas, he was selected to eight Pro Bowls from 2013-2019 and again in 2021. He was also a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2014 and 2016. He was named a Second-Team All-Pro in 2013, 2015 and 2023.

But since 2020, Smith has struggled with injuries. That year, he only played in two games before playing in 11 out of 17 games in 2021. In 2022, a torn hamstring suffered in training camp forced him to miss 13 games. He only played four games the rest of the season after making his season debut in Week 15. At age 34 last season, Smith was the fifth-oldest lineman in the league. San Francisco 49ers star, Trent Williams is expected to enter the 2025 season as the league’s oldest offensive lineman.

Final Thoughts

Smith’s retirement signals the end of an era. It is a stark reminder that all those linemen who were once viewed as superstars are nearing the end of their careers. While it is sad to see guys like that ride off into the sunset, Smith being able to do so on his own terms after 14 years says a great deal about how good of a career he had. It is because of players like him that some of the game’s younger stars can shine as brightly as they do.