Tyron Smith Bio
Tyron Jerrar Smith is an American former professional football player who spent 14 seasons as an offensive tackle in the National Football League. Born on December 12, 1990, in Los Angeles, California, he starred at the University of Southern California before being selected ninth overall in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Over the course of his career, Smith earned eight Pro Bowl selections, multiple All-Pro honors, and a place on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. He closed his career with the New York Jets in 2024 before officially retiring as a member of the Cowboys in 2025.
Widely regarded as one of the premier left tackles of his era, Smith combined rare size, footwork, and technique to anchor some of the league’s most productive offensive lines. His tenure in Dallas stretched from 2011 through 2023, and he transitioned to the Jets in 2024. On April 15, 2025, he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Dallas Cowboy, bringing his distinguished playing career to a close.
Early Life and Background
Tyron Jerrar Smith grew up in Southern California and attended Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley, where he developed into one of the most coveted offensive line prospects in the country. At Rancho Verde, he lined up on both the offensive and defensive line, and his play earned All-American recognition from Parade, SuperPrep, PrepStar, Scout.com, and EA Sports. He collected several All-Region honors as well, including Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass second team, All-CIF Central Division first team, and Riverside Press-Enterprise All-Riverside County second team as a junior in 2006.
Smith was also a standout in track and field at Rancho Verde, posting top throws of 14.23 meters (46 feet, 7 inches) in the shot put and 46.62 meters (152 feet, 10 inches) in the discus, showcasing the kind of raw power that would later define his professional career. He participated in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, one of the premier high school showcases in the country. Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com, he was ranked as the No. 6 offensive tackle prospect by Rivals and the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation by Scout, drawing praise as an exceptional right tackle prospect.
Path to American Football
Smith committed to the University of Southern California, joining a Trojans program with a long tradition of producing top linemen. He played three seasons at USC from 2008 to 2010, gradually expanding his role each year. As a freshman, he served as the backup left offensive tackle and appeared in 10 games, getting his first taste of major college competition.
During his sophomore season in 2009, Smith started the first 12 games at right offensive tackle and earned All-Pac-10 honorable mention along with CollegeFootballNews.com Sophomore All-American honorable mention. As a junior in 2010, he appeared in 12 games and captured the Morris Trophy, an award given to the best offensive and defensive linemen on the West Coast. He also earned First-team All-Pac-10 honors that year, cementing his status as a top NFL prospect heading into the 2011 Draft.
Tyron Smith Career
Dallas Cowboys Era (2011–2023)
The Dallas Cowboys selected Tyron Jerrar Smith with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, making him the first offensive lineman drafted in the first round by the franchise since Jerry Jones purchased the team in 1989 and the highest-drafted lineman in team history since John Niland went fifth overall in 1966. He signed a four-year, $12.5 million contract and immediately stepped in as the starting right tackle, with Doug Free shifting to left tackle. After veterans Marc Colombo, Leonard Davis, Andre Gurode, and Montrae Holland were released during the preseason, Smith’s role became even more important. He started every game as a rookie and earned a spot on the NFL All-Rookie Team.
In 2012, Smith switched to starting left tackle, swapping sides with Free, and started 15 games. In his third season, he committed just one holding penalty and allowed only one sack across 16 starts, drawing his first Pro Bowl selection in 2013. The following year, he signed an eight-year, $109 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league at the time. He started all 16 games in 2014, helped DeMarco Murray lead the league in rushing, and was named First-team All-Pro, while also becoming the first offensive lineman in 10 years to earn Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Seattle Seahawks.
Smith continued to dominate through the middle of the decade, earning three consecutive First-team All-Pro honors across the 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons and ranking among the league’s top players in the NFL Top 100. He helped the Cowboys to a 13-3 record in 2016 and powered rookie Ezekiel Elliott to the league rushing title, while also anchoring an offensive line that included Zack Martin and Travis Frederick. From 2017 through 2019, Smith was named to three more Pro Bowls, reaching a streak of six straight selections, even as nagging knee, back, groin, and hip injuries began to limit his availability.
Persistent injury issues followed Smith through the early 2020s. He opted for neck surgery in 2020, missing the remainder of that season, and battled multiple ankle injuries in 2021 before earning a Pro Bowl selection and starting in the Cowboys’ playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. A torn hamstring during 2022 training camp forced him to injured reserve, and after his late-season return he moved to right tackle following the emergence of Tyler Smith. In 2023, Smith appeared in and started 13 games for the Cowboys, wrapping up a 13-year run in Dallas that included eight Pro Bowl nods, multiple All-Pro selections, and a place on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
New York Jets Era (2024)
On March 18, 2024, Smith signed a one-year deal worth up to $20 million with the New York Jets, joining a team looking to solidify its offensive line. He started the first 10 games of the 2024 season, bringing veteran leadership to a young offensive front. A neck injury later landed him on injured reserve and forced him to miss the remainder of the regular season, bringing his time in New York to an early close.
Driving Style and Strengths
Tyron Jerrar Smith was known for combining rare physical tools with polished technique, a blend that made him effective in both pass protection and the running game. Former NFL lineman Ross Tucker once noted that if you tried to create the perfect prototype tackle in a computer lab, it would be Smith, praising his ability to toy with and humble pass rushers. His lateral quickness, strong hands, and balance allowed him to handle elite edge defenders, while his drive and length made him a difference-maker in the run game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Tyron Jerrar Smith’s defining moments was his record-setting contract extension in 2014 that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league, his run of six straight Pro Bowls, and his place on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. In 2014, he became the first offensive lineman in 10 years to be named Offensive Player of the Week. On April 15, 2025, he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Dallas Cowboy, formally closing a 14-season NFL career.
Tyron Smith Career Wins
While offensive linemen are rarely measured by traditional win totals, Tyron Jerrar Smith’s career is defined by sustained excellence, durability, and accolades. Over 14 NFL seasons, he earned eight Pro Bowl selections, two First-team All-Pro nods, three Second-team All-Pro selections, a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team, and recognition on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. He also won the Morris Trophy in 2010 and earned First-team All-Pac-10 honors that same year, building a trophy case that reflects one of the most decorated careers of any offensive lineman in Cowboys history.
Tyron Smith Family
Personal Life
Tyron Jerrar Smith has generally kept his personal life private, and public details about his family, marital status, and children are limited. He grew up in Southern California, the region that shaped his early athletic development, and has continued to be associated with his football community throughout his post-playing transition.
2025 Season Performance
Tyron Jerrar Smith did not play during the 2025 NFL season, as he had signed with the New York Jets in 2024 and then stepped away from football. On April 15, 2025, he signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, ending a 14-year professional career that began when he was drafted ninth overall in 2011. His formal retirement brought the curtain down on one of the most decorated tenures by an offensive lineman in recent league history.