'Time to go': OL legend Tyron Smith signs 1-day contract, retires as Dallas Cowboy

'Time to go': OL legend Tyron Smith signs 1-day contract, retires as Dallas Cowboy
With eight career Pro Bowls to his name, a surefire invitation to Canton coming, and even a promise from his boss that he'll end up getting the franchise's greatest honor with a spot in the Ring of Honor, Tyron Smith is as seasoned a veteran as they get in the NFL.
But for one day at least, what everyone wanted to talk about was his youth.
The 34-year-old Smith signed a ceremonial one-day contract on Wednesday to return to the Dallas Cowboys, just so he could then announce his retirement from football. He wanted to walk away as a member of the team he anchored for the first 13 seasons of his 14-year career, leaving now as one of the game's most dominant offensive linemen.
But his body told him it was time to leave, he said, while he can still tackle some of life's other responsibilities.
"I'm excited for the next chapter, spending more time with my family and watching my kids grow," Smith said during a well-attended press-conference at The Star. "But for now, it's time to go. I've got kids to wrestle, and I'm on nighttime baby shift."
Smith was practically a baby himself when he joined the team in 2011. The Cowboys selected Smith out of Southern California at just 20 years old. (He wouldn't turn 21 until December of his rookie season.) Team owner Jerry Jones recalled the choice as a no-brainer, calling out not only Smith's play on the field but also his incredible work ethic, as evidenced by his overnight janitorial job. Jones revealed that, according to their board that year, Smith had "the highest character grade of the whole draft."
The Cowboys had never used a first-round draft pick on an offensive lineman under Jones's ownership before taking Smith ninth overall. That they've done it four times since only speaks to their perceived return on that initial investment. Smith went on earn two first-team All-Pro nods and second-team honors three more times over 170 games (playoffs included) for the club and was named to the Pro Bowl eight times.
"It changed our way of thinking about taking that [first-round] pick," Jones said, "and using it on an offensive lineman. He did that."
The team has gone back to that well two of the last three drafts, selecting Tyler Guyton in the first round last year and Tyler Smith in 2022. Tyler Smith, in fact, was originally drafted to be Tyron's heir apparent at left tackle.
"He has the potential to be one of the greats," Tyron said of Tyler, who was looking on from the gallery that included family, friends, and a host of teammates.
The younger Smith may well become a legend, too. But there is a sense that No. 77's retirement is a watershed moment of sorts in the franchise's history.
"We won't have a player, ever, for the Dallas Cowboys," Jones stated during Wednesday's ceremony, "that shares better credentials on how they came, how they worked, how they used their background to work, and what they accomplished and meant to the team."
Like longtime teammate Zack Martin, who recently retired himself and was in attendance for Smith's announcement, Smith never got the chance to play in a Super Bowl, something Jones called "a tragedy."
While the sport's ultimate team honor eluded Smith, the Cowboys' ultimate individual honor is coming, per Jones.
"There is no question they're going in the Ring of Honor," the owner said, referring to both Smith and Martin. It's entirely possible the two, who played together on the offensive line for a decade, will have their names placed on the stadium façade at the same time, something the team has done on numerous occasions for teammates.
Though he expressed a desire to play until he was 40, Smith said he knew it was the right time to retire from the game. He missed most of both the 2020 and 2022 seasons with injuries and appeared in just 10 contests last year, his only season with the Jets.
"I don't want to be that guy down the line to where I'm struggling," Smith admitted. "I want to be healthy for my kids. I want to be able to rush around with my kids. I've got some big kids, now; they ain't the normal size. You've got to be in shape for that. The decision came, and it came easy."
Smith explained that he and Jones spoke briefly about a ceremonial return to Dallas around the time of Martin's farewell address in February.
"There was no question I was going to come here and retire as a Cowboy," he said.
Moving forward, Smith may not be one of those ex-players who makes a lot of appearances at team events or soaks up much of the spotlight in retirement. He never cared for the attention, and confessed Wednesday that he didn't enjoy making speeches.
No, Tyron Smith let his play in the trenches do the talking for him. Besides, his Hall of Fame speech and Ring of Honor remarks will undoubtedly come soon enough.
What Cowboys fans will have to remember now will be 14 years of dominance from one of the best to ever do it.
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