There's no denying hearing about Zack Martin's retirement is bittersweet. Dallas Cowboys fans should be grateful for an epic 11-year career that yielded more All-Pro honors than it did holding penalties. They should be thankful for Martin's weekly display of offensive guard dominance on the field.
He gave the Cowboys his all, missing multiple games in only two seasons, including his final one in 2024, when a right ankle injury knocked him out for the year.
And yet, it's bitter for more than one reason. Like it happens with every sports hero that hangs it up, you wish he had one more season in him. If someone like Martin can fade away as a player, then what can't time beat?
But for the Cowboys specifically, it's difficult to think about his retirement without thinking of him as one more addition to a long list of all-time greats that have come and gone from Dallas without a Super Bowl win.
The list includes Jason Witten, Tyron Smith, Dez Bryant, Travis Frederick, Sean Lee, and even DeMarcus Ware, who got his own with the Denver Broncos but not wearing the silver and navy. It also includes the Tony Romo era. Though "all-time great" is too rich for him, it was a long time of competent QB play that went to waste.
To add Martin to the list hurts. And it should. Today should be all about Martin's epic career yet most fans probably thought about the list. In all likelihood, they thought about Jerry Jones, as well. He can't keep getting away with it, fans might have yelled a la Jesse Pinkman.
We know Micah Parsons thought about the list, as he reacted to a post discussing it on Twitter/X. As a response, he vowed the list would end, typing "That list is coming to an end!"
He might be right, I guess. It's only somewhat encouraging to hear a superstar of the team make such a bold proclamation. But Cowboys fans know by now that's not enough. They've seen one too many legends fail to overcome what goes on in Dallas.
Many players have done their parts in the past. It's the front office that can inspire some hope by doing things differently and changing the same ol' approach we're used to seeing. Unless fans witness a different team-building strategy, one that goes beyond signing Ezekiel Elliott and Eric Kendricks in free agency and calling it a day in March, Parsons can promise as many Lombardi Trophies as he wants. Fans won't buy in.
It's the Joneses' turn to inspire hope. A good start would be getting a general manager whose name doesn't rhyme with Terry Bones in the building.
