One of the best offensive linemen to come through the Notre Dame football program in the last couple of decades has officially decided to call it a career. Zack Martin, who spent 11 years in the NFL as one of the best in the game, announced on Thursday evening that he plans to retire.
Martin, 34, ends his career as one of the most decorated offensive linemen in league history with seven first-team All-Pro selections and nine Pro Bowl honors. While those numbers might not raise the eyebrows of the average fan, it’s important to note that According to NFL Research, Martin's seven first-team All-Pros are tied with Hall of Famers Randall McDaniel and John Hannah for the most by any guard in league history.
Martin spent his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys after they selected him in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft after starting four straight years from 2011-2013 for the Notre Dame football team.
Ex-Notre Dame football great Zack Martin calls it a career
After redshirting as a true freshman in 2009, he became the starting left tackle for the Irish in 2010. Martin was one of 11 players to start all 13 games for the Irish that season. In 2011, he started all 13 games at left offensive tackle, and was part of a unit that only allowed 17 sacks during the season.
Martin helped pave the way for a running game that averaged 4.8 yards a carry, the best by a Notre Dame football team since 1996. In 2012, he was named one of the four team captains for and started all 13 games while leading the team to a 12–0 regular season record and a trip to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
As a senior, Zack Martin was named team captain for the second time, becoming only the 18th player in Notre Dame football history at the time to earn such an honor. Martin would start all 13 games, setting a new school record for career starts by an offensive lineman with 52.