Tyron Smith Bio
Tyron Jerrar Smith is an American former professional football player who played offensive tackle in the National Football League for 14 seasons. Born on December 12, 1990, in Los Angeles, California, he played college football for the USC Trojans and was honored with the Morris Trophy in 2010. Smith was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys as the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. His career is marked by 14 seasons in the league, numerous accolades including eight Pro Bowl selections and recognition in the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. He transitioned to the New York Jets in 2024 before retiring in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Tyron Jerrar Smith grew up in Los Angeles, California, before moving with his family to the Inland Empire region of Southern California. He attended Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley, California, where he played on the offensive and defensive line. At Rancho Verde, he earned All-American honors from Parade, SuperPrep, PrepStar, Scout.com, and EA Sports, while also collecting numerous All-Region honors.
As a junior in 2006, Smith made the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass second team, the All-CIF Central Division first team, and the Riverside Press-Enterprise All-Riverside County second team. He capped his high school career by playing in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Also a standout in track and field, Smith recorded top throws of 14.23 meters in the shot put and 46.62 meters in the discus, an indication of the raw power that would later define his play in the trenches.
Considered a five-star recruit by major scouting services, Smith was ranked as the No. 6 offensive tackle prospect by Rivals.com and listed as the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect in the nation by Scout.com. The consensus among evaluators was that he was a rare combination of size, footwork, and athleticism for the tackle position.
Path to American Football
Smith played three seasons with the USC Trojans from 2008 to 2010, developing into one of the most polished offensive line prospects in college football. As a freshman, he served as the backup left offensive tackle and appeared in 10 games, getting his first taste of major college competition. The following year, he started the first 12 games at right offensive tackle and earned All-Pac-10 honorable mention along with CollegeFootballNews.com Sophomore All-American honorable mention for the 2009 season.
As a junior in 2010, Smith appeared in 12 games and was named First-team All-Pac-10. He also won the prestigious Morris Trophy, an award given to the best offensive and defensive linemen on the West Coast. After his junior campaign, Smith declared for the 2011 NFL draft and was widely regarded as one of the top offensive tackle prospects in his class.
Tyron Smith Career
Early Career (2011–2012)
Selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, Smith became the first offensive lineman drafted in the first round by the Cowboys since Jerry Jones bought the team in 1989, and the highest in franchise history since John Niland went fifth overall in 1966. He signed a four-year, $12.5 million contract and immediately earned a starting role at right tackle, with Doug Free sliding to the left side.
Smith started every game as a rookie and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In 2012, the Cowboys shifted him to starting left tackle, swapping sides with Free. He started 15 games that season and was fined $15,000 for a touchdown-saving horse-collar tackle against the New York Giants, a sign of his willingness to play through the whistle.
Dallas Cowboys Breakthrough (2013–2016)
Smith began establishing himself among the elite offensive tackles in 2013, committing just one holding penalty and allowing only one sack in 16 starts. He was named to the 2014 Pro Bowl on Team Rice and ranked 78th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014. In July 2014, Smith signed an eight-year, $109 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league at the time.
That season he started all 16 games for the NFL’s second-ranked rushing offense, helping DeMarco Murray become the league’s rushing leader, and was named First-team All-Pro. Smith added a second consecutive First-team All-Pro nod in 2016, when he helped the Cowboys to a 13-3 record and cleared the way for rookie Ezekiel Elliott to lead the league in rushing. He was ranked 18th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017, the highest of any offensive lineman.
Cowboys Prime Years (2017–2019)
From 2017 through 2019, Smith strung together a remarkable run of Pro Bowl selections alongside fellow linemen Zack Martin and Travis Frederick. His 2017 season was marred by knee, back, groin, and hip injuries, limiting him to 13 games and a trip to injured reserve in late December. He still earned his fifth straight Pro Bowl nod that year.
Smith started 13 games at left tackle in 2018, missing three with injury, and earned a sixth straight Pro Bowl selection. He matched that with a seventh straight Pro Bowl in 2019 after starting 13 games at left tackle. He was also named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2010s Team, cementing his place among the best linemen of the decade.
Final Cowboys Years (2020–2023)
In 2020, a lingering neck issue led Smith to choose surgery, and he announced on October 9 that he would forgo the remainder of the season. He was placed on injured reserve and missed the year. Smith returned in 2021, but multiple ankle injuries caused him to miss six weeks. He started 11 regular season games and the Cowboys’ Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and was named to the Pro Bowl for the 2021 season.
Smith suffered a torn hamstring during 2022 training camp, was placed on injured reserve, and was activated on December 17. He moved to right tackle with the emergence of Tyler Smith, started four regular season games, and appeared in both Cowboys playoff games. In 2023, he appeared in and started 13 games for Dallas, earning Second-team All-Pro honors.
New York Jets Era (2024)
On March 18, 2024, Smith signed with the New York Jets on a one-year deal worth up to $20 million. He started the first 10 games of the 2024 season at offensive tackle, bringing veteran leadership to a young Jets offensive line. A neck injury forced him onto injured reserve, and he missed the remainder of the regular season.
On April 15, 2025, Smith signed a one-day contract to retire as a Dallas Cowboy after 14 NFL seasons, bringing his playing career to a close on his own terms.
Driving Style and Strengths
Smith was widely regarded as the prototype of a modern offensive tackle, blending rare footwork for his 6-foot-5, 320-pound frame with the raw power to move defenders off the ball. Former NFL lineman-turned-analyst Ross Tucker described him as the kind of player who humbles opponents, toying with them in ways that should not be possible at the professional level. His combination of length, athleticism, and technical refinement made him equally effective in pass protection and as a run blocker.
Notable Events and Milestones
Smith’s most defining moments include his 2014 Player of the Week award, the first by an offensive lineman in 10 years, and his role in helping DeMarco Murray and Ezekiel Elliott claim league rushing titles. He earned eight Pro Bowl selections, two First-team All-Pro nods, three Second-team All-Pro honors, and a place on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. His 14-season career spanned 171 games played and 171 games started, a testament to his durability and consistency.
Tyron Smith Career Wins
Tyron Jerrar Smith finished his 14-season NFL career with 171 games played and 171 games started, earning eight Pro Bowl selections, two First-team All-Pro honors, three Second-team All-Pro selections, and a place on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. He appeared in multiple playoff games with the Dallas Cowboys and finished his career with the New York Jets in 2024.
Dallas Cowboys Highlights
Smith was the foundation of one of the best offensive lines in football for over a decade, anchoring a unit that included Zack Martin and Travis Frederick. He was named First-team All-Pro in 2014 and 2016, and earned three Second-team All-Pro selections in 2013, 2015, and 2023. He played a key role in helping the Cowboys lead the league in rushing in 2014 and 2016.
New York Jets Highlights
Smith’s lone season with the Jets saw him start the first 10 games of the 2024 season before a neck injury ended his year. His veteran presence helped stabilize a young offensive line during the early portion of the schedule.
Tyron Smith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Smith grew up in the Los Angeles area before his family moved to Moreno Valley, California, where he attended Rancho Verde High School. His family supported his early development in both football and track and field, where he developed the explosive power that became a hallmark of his play at tackle.
Personal Life
Tyron Jerrar Smith spent the bulk of his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys before joining the New York Jets in 2024 and retiring as a Cowboy in 2025. Further details of his personal and family life are not widely documented in public sources.
2025 Season Performance
Tyron Jerrar Smith’s 2025 began with a symbolic homecoming when he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Dallas Cowboy on April 15, 2025, closing a 14-season NFL career. The ceremony allowed the longtime cornerstone of the Cowboys offensive line to say goodbye to the organization where he had spent 13 of his 14 professional seasons.
With his retirement official, Smith stepped away from active play and into retirement. His final on-field season had been 2024, when he started 10 games for the New York Jets before a neck injury ended his campaign. The 2025 chapter is defined by his farewell rather than by additional on-field production.
