Jerry Jones promises Zack Martin something that Jimmy Johnson wishes he would've received decades ago
Zack Martin just got something promised to him that Jimmy Johnson would've loved to have back in the day. Halfway through Martin's retirement press conference on Wednesday, longtime Cowboys' radio play-by-play announcer Brad Sham hit Jerry Jones with a hard-hitting question: "Will you commit to putting (Zack) in the Ring of Honor before he goes […]
Zack Martin just got something promised to him that Jimmy Johnson would've loved to have back in the day.
Halfway through Martin's retirement press conference on Wednesday, longtime Cowboys' radio play-by-play announcer Brad Sham hit Jerry Jones with a hard-hitting question: "Will you commit to putting (Zack) in the Ring of Honor before he goes in the Hall of Fame?"
It's an important question considering the Cowboys' history with the Ring of Honor: DeMarcus Ware's name went up at AT&T Stadium in 2023, only after he was inducted the same year to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And how about Jimmy Johnson?
Martin never had a feud with Jones like the former head coach did, but Johnson went an insulting 29 years since leaving the team without being honored by the Cowboys before finally going in in 2023. It was a petty affair and one that's fortunately been buried by both parties. But you can see why it was an important question from Sham.
Jerry Jones' answer was quite blunt: "Yes."
That sets a deadline for the Cowboys owner. Following Martin's retirement announcement, I laid out exactly why the seven-time First-Team All-Pro is likely to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. In short, his resumé matches or exceeds the interior offensive linemen who have gone into Canton, Ohio in their first year of eligibility.
Martin will be eligible to be inducted into the Hall of Fame five years from now, in other words, after the 2029 season.
The Cowboys usually induct players to the Ring of Honor during halftime of big games, so a big game in 2029 feels like the soft deadline for Martin to be honored by the team, ensuring his name goes up there before his golden bust is built in Canton.
