FRISCO - Zack Martin's decision to retire from football wasn't a roster-related shock, as the Dallas Cowboys legendary right guard making mention to us of it as a possibility last summer at training camp in Oxnard.
But it will be stunning to never see one of the all-time greats suit up again.
After 11 years of outstanding production and nine All-Pros, Martin now rides off into the sunset as one of the best to ever do it - a "twin'' with the late Hall of Famer Larry Allen, as team owner Jerry Jones put it in the Wednesday farewell press conference here inside The Star.
The decision to retire is certainly one he wrestled with, but the old saying, "If you are thinking about retirement, you're retired" comes into play here - only after, however, Martin "gave it everything I have'' every day of his career.
Martin had a feeling 12 months ago, and while the season didn't end the way he wanted with injury, seeing him finish his final season playing 10 games, he felt like the time was right to call it a day.
"It's definitely been on my mind,'' he said of calling it quits. "I wanted to see if I maybe just woke up one day and was like I'm not done yet, but that didn't come so I'm very at peace with my decision and I think I made the right call."
Zack Martin & Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys. Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
With Martin an ironman of the competition, he can now look forward to the next chapter of his life after giving so much to the organization and the fan base.
"I haven't gone too deep down that rabbit hole yet,'' said the husband and father of three regarding his occupational future. "I don't see myself not, in some capacity, in the football world. Whatever that may be, I'm not sure. But, for right now, I'm just gonna hang with the family and maybe coach some little league games."
Ever-present along the Cowboys' offensive line since being drafted in 2014, Martin played 162 regular-season games and 17 playoff games in his 11 seasons. Some players just know when the time is right to retire, while others are pushed out because they think they still have a lot to give.
Related: Zack Martin's 1-Word Message To Cowboys In Goodbye Speech
And in Martin's case, he doesn't have any regrets about how he went about his business in the NFL both on and off the field, and will retire as a franchise and NFL great.
"It was an absolute privilege to run out of the tunnel every Sunday and give this city everything I had," he said, trying to hold back tears. Football has been a huge part of my life.
"It's what I know. It's what I love. It's what has shaped me for as long as I can remember. I did not make this decision lightly. It comes after a long thought and prayer. But the time has come for my football journey to reach its end."
Martin's at peace with his decision, and for most players, that's half the battle.
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This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 7:10 AM.