'I have never experienced anything like you' Zack Martin sends a direct and emotional message to Cowboys fans during retirement speech
Something stood out immediately in the minutes leading up to Zack Martin's retirement press conference at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The Dallas Cowboys' legendary offensive lineman drew quite the crowd.Tony Romo, Dak Prescott, Jason Witten, Ron Leary, Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, were among the several teammates in the crowd that once shared the football […]
Something stood out immediately in the minutes leading up to Zack Martin's retirement press conference at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The Dallas Cowboys' legendary offensive lineman drew quite the crowd.
Tony Romo, Dak Prescott, Jason Witten, Ron Leary, Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, were among the several teammates in the crowd that once shared the football field with Martin.
Martin addressed most of them during his speech, and a few more that weren't in the building. But that didn't stop him from saving the most important group of people for last: The fans.
Martin got emotional when he addressed Cowboys Nation directly on Tuesday, noting how important fans were during his career.
"And finally, to Cowboys fans, I have never experienced anything like you," Martin said toward the end of this prepared remarks. "No matter where you go in the world, you can always find a Cowboys fan. It was an absolute privilege to run out of the tunnel every Sunday and give the city everything I had. I know many of you may have seen this decision coming, but that doesn't make it any easier. Football has been a huge part of my life, what I know, what I love and what it shaped me for as long as I can remember. I did not make this decision lightly. It came after a long spot in prayer, but the time has come for my football journey to reach its end. As I step away from the game, I do so with a full heart, knowing I gave it everything I had."
Fighting back tears, Martin finished his speech by thanking the game football. which he played for almost three full decades:
"I was always captivated when coaches would talk about maximizing your full potential. That was always the goal. And after 27 years of football, I can confidently say I'll never forget sitting in those seats years ago, listening to my teammate, Jason Witten, talking about how the journey is a reward. He was right. Every rep, every practice, every battle, won and lost along the way, it all mattered. Football will always be a part of me. You know, I will always be grateful for the journey. Thank you."
Martin's career is filled with accolades. After being drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish went on to earn nine All-Pro honors, seven times as a First-Team selection. His All-Pro honors beat the total times he was flagged for offensive holding.
And yet, Martin will always be remembered for the class act that he is off the field as much as the dominant force he was in the trenches. His message to fans is a simple but powerful example.
