Zack Martin’s retirement press conference on Wednesday was special for many reasons, but one of its best aspects was the Dallas Cowboys legend’s message es to former teammates, including that to Jason Witten.
In 2018, the future Hall of Fame tight end addressed the media at The Star with his own retirement speech before he returned to the field and re-retired in 2021. That day, he shared impactful words with Martin in attendance, which stuck in his mind until now.
“I’ll never forget sitting in those seats years ago, listening to my teammate, Jason Witten, talking about how the journey is a reward,” Martin said on Wednesday. “He was right. Every rep, every practice, every battle won and lost along the way, it all mattered. Football will always be a part of me. I will always be grateful for the journey, thank you.”
It’s a great message and one everyone can learn from, football player or not.
Martin sharing Witten’s words all these years later was an indirect way of honoring No. 82’s career. Hours later, it was Witten’s family honoring Martin. Michelle Witten, Jason’s wife, shared the ultimate compliment every Cowboys player aspires to receive.
“(Zack Martin) played and revered the game of football the exact same way (Jason Witten) did,” she wrote on a post on X. “And proved the Best is the Standard.”
To say you played and revered the game just like Witten did, the same man who Bob Lily passed the “Mr. Cowboy” moniker to, is the ultimate tip of the hat. And it couldn’t been received by a more worthy player.
Martin’s dominance in the trenches was only part of his story. The on-field consistency we saw from No. 70 was he result of, in the words of Witten, grit.
Now it’s time for Zack to enjoy retirement and for the Cowboys to turn the page and try to find the next generational player. They’re unlikely to find one just like him.