Notre Dame football: 10 best players to play in the NFL this past decade
By Matt Clark
After redshirting his freshman season in 2009, Zack Martin would go on to start all 13 games in each of his next four seasons for the Notre Dame football team, breaking the school record for most games started by an offensive lineman with 52.
Martin would be the mainstay at left tackle for the Irish during his four seasons as a starter. He would go on to be named a team captain in 2012 and 2013, becoming only the 18th player in school history to be a two-year team captain.
The Irish star offensive lineman would win the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the first offensive lineman since 1959 to win the MVP award. Martin would be named a second-team All-American following his stellar 2013 season.
After the conclusion of the 2013 season, Martin would declare for the 2014 NFL draft, where he would be selected in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys with the 16th overall selection. Since he stepped foot in the league, Martin has become one of the greatest offensive guards to play the game.
Martin’s list of accolades include him being a six-time Pro Bowl selection every year in the league (2014-2019), a PFWA All-Rookie team selection (2014), a four-time first-team All-Pro selection (2014, 2016, 2018, 2019), and a two-time second-team All-Pro selection (2015, 2017).
The fact that he has been named a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in every year that he has played in the National Football League is absolutely incredible. Zack Martin and fellow former Notre Dame football star Quenton Nelson are undoubtedly the two best offensive guards in the league right now.
Martin’s accomplishments during his first six seasons in the league have already positioned him to be a likely Hall of Fame inductee when his playing days are over. At only 29-years of age, Martin is just coming into his prime and there is nothing to suggest that his Hall of Fame production won’t continue.
Next. Notre Dame football: Defensive Tackle depth chart. dark
Despite the extremely talented group of contenders on this list of greatest former Notre Dame football players in the National Football League this past decade, Martin’s accolades thus far make him an easy selection to be atop this list.