Zack Martin Bio
Zachary Edward Martin, widely known as Zack Martin, is a former American professional football player who spent his entire 11-season career in the National Football League (NFL) as an offensive guard for the Dallas Cowboys. Selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft, Martin quickly became one of the most decorated linemen of his era, earning nine Pro Bowl selections and nine All-Pro honors. He was also named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, a rare honor that placed him among the league’s most dominant players of the decade. Martin officially announced his retirement from professional football on February 20, 2025, closing a remarkable career defined by consistency, toughness, and elite craftsmanship at the line of scrimmage.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and listed at 315 pounds, Martin brought a rare blend of size, intelligence, and physicality to the guard position. He played in 162 career games and started all 162, an extraordinary record of durability in a league where offensive linemen are frequently tested by injuries. His legacy with the Cowboys includes being part of an offensive front that helped the team field one of the league’s most productive rushing attacks and protected multiple Pro Bowl quarterbacks.
Early Life and Background
Zachary Edward Martin was born on November 20, 1990, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He grew up alongside his brother Nick Martin, and the two brothers spent their entire elementary years at Saint Matthew Catholic School in Indianapolis. The brothers developed their athletic foundation through Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, an experience that helped shape their competitive drive and team-first mindset.
Both Zack and Nick enrolled as freshmen at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis, where Zack became a standout on the football field. He started both ways as a sophomore on the offensive and defensive lines and recorded 73 tackles, including five tackles for loss as a defensive tackle during his 2006 season. He also played basketball during his sophomore and junior years and competed in track and field as a shot putter and discus thrower. His punishing blocking style earned him the nickname “the Butcher” from opposing fans.
As a senior, Martin tallied 114 pancake blocks and was named a first-team all-state selection in both his junior and senior seasons. He was part of the Indiana Class 3A State Championship team as a sophomore and helped lead Bishop Chatard to a second consecutive state championship as a junior in 2007. He was selected to play in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando, Florida, and was considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, ranked as the 22nd best offensive tackle in the nation. He chose to attend Notre Dame over offers from Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan.
Path to Professional Football
Zack Martin took a traditional route to the NFL by starring at a high-profile college program and developing into a top-tier prospect. After redshirting in 2009 at Notre Dame, he became the starting left tackle for the Fighting Irish in 2010 and started all 13 games that season. As a junior in 2011, he started every game at left tackle and was part of a unit that allowed only 17 sacks while helping the running game average 4.8 yards per carry, the best by a Notre Dame team since 1996.
In 2012, Martin was named one of four team captains for the Irish. He started all 13 games and helped lead the team to a 12-0 regular season and a trip to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, a game Notre Dame lost 42-14. In his final collegiate season, he was named team captain for the second time, becoming only the 18th player in school history to earn that distinction. He set a new Notre Dame record for career starts by an offensive lineman with 52 and led a unit that allowed only 8 sacks, tied for second best in the FBS.
Martin was named MVP of the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl after a 29-16 win over Rutgers, becoming the first offensive lineman since Jay Huffman in 1959 to receive that distinction in a college bowl game. He was also named a Second-team All-American in 2012. These performances established him as one of the top offensive line prospects in the 2014 NFL draft and set the stage for his selection by the Dallas Cowboys.
Zack Martin Career
Early Career (2014-2015)
The Dallas Cowboys selected Martin with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft, with the intention of converting him from tackle to guard. He was named the starter at right guard from the first day of organized team activities, replacing Mackenzy Bernadeau, and never relinquished the role. On December 23, 2014, he was selected to the 2014 Pro Bowl as one of four rookies, and he was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. On January 2, 2015, he was voted to the Associated Press 2014 All-Pro Team, making him the only rookie on the squad and the first Cowboys rookie named to the team since Calvin Hill in 1969. He was also the first rookie offensive lineman named first-team AP All-Pro since Dick Huffman in 1947.
In 2015, Martin earned second-team All-Pro honors despite losing running back DeMarco Murray to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. He and the offensive line led the NFL’s ninth-best rushing attack, and teammate Darren McFadden finished fourth in the league in rushing with 1,089 yards. Martin was also selected to the 2016 Pro Bowl as part of Team Irvin.
Cowboys Prime Years (2016-2019)
From 2016 through 2019, Martin established himself as one of the premier guards in the NFL and a central figure on a dominant Cowboys offensive line. In 2016, he was named to his third straight Pro Bowl and earned first-team All-Pro honors, sharing both distinctions with fellow linemen Travis Frederick and Tyron Smith. He was also ranked 58th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017, reflecting his growing reputation among his peers.
On April 18, 2017, the Cowboys picked up the fifth-year option on Martin’s rookie contract, a sign of their commitment to keeping their young core intact. He earned his fourth straight Pro Bowl selection alongside Smith and Frederick, and was ranked 71st on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018. In 2018, he signed a six-year, $84 million contract extension with $40 million guaranteed, a deal that made him the highest-paid guard in the NFL at the time. He suffered a knee injury in Week 14 that year, the first missed game of his career.
In 2019, Martin became one of only five offensive linemen ever to make the Pro Bowl in each of their first six seasons, joining a select group that included Lou Creekmur, Jon Morris, Joe Thomas, and Richmond Webb. His run of consistency through the decade was later recognized with selection to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
Later Seasons and Retirement (2020-2025)
In 2020, Martin was asked to make his first career start at right tackle in Week 11 due to injuries across the offensive line. He was later placed on injured reserve on December 7, 2020, with a calf strain before being activated on January 2, 2021. In 2021, he was ruled out for the season opener after testing positive for COVID-19 but returned to play and earn another Pro Bowl nod.
Martin started all 17 games in 2022, playing 1,143 offensive snaps, receiving only one holding penalty, and not allowing a single sack. For his efforts, he received a first-team All-Pro nod and a spot on the NFC Pro Bowl roster. In September 2023, he suffered an ankle injury during a victory over the New York Jets and was later ruled out for the team’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. He started 10 games in 2024 before it was announced on December 5, 2024, that he would undergo season-ending ankle surgery.
On February 20, 2025, Martin officially announced his retirement from professional football after 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He exited the game as one of the most accomplished guards in franchise history and a central figure in the team’s offensive identity throughout the 2010s and early 2020s.
Driving Style and Strengths
Zack Martin was widely regarded as one of the most complete guards of his generation, combining textbook technique with rare physicality at the point of attack. He excelled in both pass protection and run blocking, with a particular reputation for his hand placement, leverage, and ability to anchor against powerful defensive tackles. His intelligence and communication skills made him a leader of the offensive line room and a trusted partner for quarterbacks and running backs alike.
Notable Events and Milestones
Martin’s most memorable milestones include being named first-team All-Pro as a rookie in 2014, signing a record-setting $84 million extension in 2018, and being selected to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. He started all 162 career regular-season games he appeared in, an extraordinary mark of durability for an interior lineman, and earned Pro Bowl honors in nine of his 11 seasons.
Zack Martin Career Honors
Zack Martin built one of the most decorated résumés of any offensive lineman in Cowboys history. Across 11 seasons, he earned nine Pro Bowl selections, seven first-team All-Pro honors, and two second-team All-Pro selections. He was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2014 and the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
NFL Honors
Martin was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. He earned first-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, with second-team All-Pro selections in 2015 and 2017. His place on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team placed him among the most dominant players of his era.
Zack Martin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Zack Martin comes from a close-knit family with deep ties to football. His younger brother, Nick Martin, also played college football at Notre Dame as a center and was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. The brothers grew up together in Indianapolis and developed their football foundation through Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports before starring at Bishop Chatard High School.
Personal Life
Zack Martin married his wife, Morgan, in July 2016. The couple has a son and a daughter. Morgan is the sister of former NFL tight end Tyler Eifert, making Zack and Eifert brothers-in-law after having been teammates and roommates at the University of Notre Dame. Martin’s longtime residence in the Dallas area reflected his commitment to the Cowboys organization throughout his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks the first year of Zack Martin’s life after professional football, following his official retirement announcement on February 20, 2025. After 11 seasons, 162 starts, and a place on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Martin steps away from the game as one of the most accomplished guards in Cowboys history. His absence leaves a significant void along the Dallas offensive line and creates opportunities for younger players to step into a leadership role.
Throughout his career, Martin was the anchor of a Cowboys offensive front that consistently ranked among the league’s best units. His combination of durability, technique, and competitive fire set a standard that will be difficult to match. While he will not be on the field in 2025, his influence is expected to remain visible in the preparation and culture of the Dallas offensive line room.
