Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1533229
52 APRIL 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TODD D. BURLAGE C iting family, injuries and a desire to go out on top, former Notre Dame great and seven-time first-team NFL All-Pro Zack Martin made his retire- ment official March 5, after 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. The nine-time Pro Bowl selection at offensive guard leaves the game as one of the best NFL players that Notre Dame has ever produced, and a perfect example of what commitment and the pursuit of excellence can create. " I wa s a lways ca p t iva te d wh e n coaches would talk about maximizing your full potential. That was always the goal," said Martin, who was accompa- nied during his announcement in Dallas by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and a collection of former teammates. "And after 27 years of football, I can confi- dently say I've done that." During his 11 seasons with the Cow- boys, Martin remarkably recorded only seven holding penalties — not one in pass protection — to go along with those seven first-team All-Pro selections. "I did not make this decision lightly," Martin added. "It came after a lot of thought and prayer. But the time has come for my football journey to reach its end. As I step away from the game, I do so with a full heart, knowing that I gave it everything I had." QUITE A JOURNEY A strong but quiet leader, Martin — an Indianapolis native who played at Notre Dame from 2009-13 — relied on his talent and durability to become a vital presence on and off the field for the Cowboys. Only three times during his 11 seasons in Dallas did Martin, 34, miss a game. And in seven of those seasons, he played at least 96 percent of his team's offen- sive snaps. "Zack's the best," said Cowboys vet- eran quarterback Dak Prescott, who spent parts of 10 seasons working with Martin. "It's hard to even fathom a locker room or huddle without Zack Martin. He's the ultimate leader. It's a guy who you can't replace." Rumors of Martin's retirement sur- faced last December when the former Irish All-American shut his season down and underwent season-ending surgery on a right ankle that had nagged him for months, and had diminished his usual stellar on-field performance. "We'll see what the future holds," Martin said when his 2024 season ended. "This is not the time to have those discussions, and that is all I'll say about that." A sure-bet NFL Hall of Fame inductee when he becomes eligible in five years, the 2014 NFL Draft first-round pick (16th overall) is also a lock to someday add his name to the prestigious Dallas Cow- boys Ring of Honor. O n ly f ra n c h i se g rea ts Bob Lilly (11), Jason Witten (11), Larry Allen (10) and Mel Renfro (10) have more Pro Bowl selections with the Cowboys than Martin (nine). "What a privilege it is for the Dallas Cowboys to be the only team that you've ever been on, the only team t h a t yo u 've eve r p l aye d fo r," Jo n e s sa i d . " We 're honored." The Cowboys memorably made Martin a first-round draft pick 11 years ago, despite Jones insisting that Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Man- ziel would be a better selection. And the rest, as they say, is history. "I know many of you may have seen this [retirement] decision coming but that doesn't make it any easier," Mar- tin shared while fighting back tears. "Football has been a huge part of my life, it's what I know, what I love, and what has shaped me for as long as I can remember." ✦ FIGHTING IRISH HEADLINERS Prentiss Hubb (Played at Notre Dame from 2018-22), PG, AEK, Basketball Champions League Europe The Washington, D.C., native and overseas basketball journeyman is enjoying a ter- rific start to his first season playing for AEK in Athens, Greece. Through nine games, Hubb was averaging 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per contest. Undrafted in 2022 and well traveled since, Hubb, 25, has also made stops in Germany and Italy during his three professional seasons playing abroad. Kyle Palmieri (2009-10), F, New York Islanders, NHL Playing some of the best hockey of his season, the New York Islanders forward tallied 3 goals in his four games between Feb. 27 and March 4. Through games as of March 4, the 34-year-old Smithtown, N.Y., native was tied for second on the Islanders with 20 goals, tied for first on the team with 23 assists, and was fourth with 41 points. Bryan Rust, (2010-14), RW, Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL With 1 goal and 4 assists in his last three games, the Pontiac, Mich., native is play- ing well for the struggling Penguins. A third-round draft pick out of Notre Dame in 2010, the 11-year NHL veteran was second on the Penguins with 21 goals through March 4. Rust, 32, also had 26 assists and he was third on the team with 47 points. NFL Hall Of Fame Lock Zack Martin Officially Retires I R I S H I N T H E P R O S Martin made the Pro Bowl nine times in 11 seasons, and he was a seven-time NFL first-team All-Pro selection. PHOTO VIA X