Jerry Jones says Zack Martin will go into Cowboys Ring of Honor

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Zack Martin will be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor before reaching the Pro Football Hall of Fame, per Todd Archer of ESPN. Jones did not share a specific date, but Martin will be eligible for the Hall of Fame after a five-year wait.

Jones made the announcement during Martin’s retirement press conference on Wednesday. Last month, the standout offensive lineman informed the Cowboys that he has played his final season in the NFL.

“There is a deep sense of pride that I was able to give everything I could to one team,” an emotional Zack Martin told reporters on Wednesday, per Mike Fisher of Athlon Sports. “I gave everything I had, every single day for you guys.”

Martin had a legendary career with the Cowboys. He was selected by the team in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and played in 162 career games. In his 11 seasons with the Cowboys, Martin has been named to the Pro Bowl nine times and selected to the All-Pro Team nine times. His work on the field led to the Pro Football Hall of Fame naming him to the 2010s All-Decade Team.

Dak Prescott shows love to Zack Martin

“Zack’s the best,” Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said this week, per the Cowboys’ official website. “It’s hard to even fathom a locker room or huddle without Zack Martin. He’s been here since I’ve been here and he’s been a warrior. You talk about a guy who doesn’t miss time and, if he does, you know it’s bad.”

Prescott added, “He’s the ultimate leader. He leads by example. He doesn’t have to say much and when he does, you’re all ears. It’s a guy who you can’t replace. You just can’t replace him with one guy. It’s going to take myself and a bunch of other guys, and I’m not even talking about just on the field. I’m talking about the leadership he brings off of the field.”

In early February, Martin was in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX. At that time, the Notre Dame alum wasn’t sure if he was going to retire or not.

“I think I’ve done a nice job in my career to really focus on what I was doing at that time throughout my career, and that’s what I’m trying to do now,” Martin said. Still trying to figure out what the next chapter in my life looks like, whether that be playing football here in Dallas, playing football somewhere else, retiring, whatever that may be, that’s what I’m trying to figure out.”