Zack Martin Bio
Zachary Edward Martin is an American former professional football player who spent 11 seasons as a guard in the National Football League (NFL), all with the Dallas Cowboys. Selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft after a standout college career at the University of Notre Dame, Martin established himself as one of the premier interior offensive linemen of his era. He was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, earned nine Pro Bowl selections, and made nine All-Pro teams during his career.
Early Life and Background
Zachary Edward Martin was born on November 20, 1990, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Along with his brother Nick, he spent his elementary years at Saint Matthew Catholic School in Indianapolis before enrolling at Bishop Chatard High School. The brothers grew up playing Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, which helped lay the foundation for their football careers.
At Bishop Chatard, Martin developed into a dominant lineman, recording 114 pancake blocks during his senior season and earning first-team all-state recognition as both a junior and a senior. He started on both sides of the line during his sophomore year, notching 73 tackles on defense, and was part of back-to-back Indiana Class 3A state championship teams. His physical playing style earned him the nickname “the Butcher” from opposing fans, and he was selected to play in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando, Florida.
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Martin was rated the 22nd-best offensive tackle in the nation. He accepted a scholarship from Notre Dame over offers from Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan, choosing to continue his development at one of college football’s most tradition-rich programs.
Path to Professional Football
After redshirting in 2009, Martin became the starting left tackle for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2010, starting all 13 games as a sophomore. He continued his upward trajectory, starting every game at left tackle in 2011 and helping the Irish offensive line allow just 17 sacks. As a junior in 2012, he was named one of four team captains, starting all 13 games and helping lead Notre Dame to a 12-0 regular season and a trip to the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama.
Martin returned to Notre Dame for his senior season in 2013, earning team captain honors for the second time and setting a school record for career starts by an offensive lineman with 52. The Irish line allowed only 8 sacks that season, tied for second-best in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Martin was named MVP of the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl after a 29-16 win over Rutgers, becoming the first offensive lineman since 1959 to receive that distinction in a college bowl game. He was also named a second-team All-American in 2012.
Zack Martin Career
Early Career (2014-2015)
The Dallas Cowboys selected Martin with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft, with the intention of converting him from tackle to guard. He was named the starting right guard from the first day of organized team activities, replacing Mackenzy Bernadeau. Martin became one of four rookies selected to the 2014 Pro Bowl and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. On January 2, 2015, he was voted to the Associated Press (AP) 2014 All-Pro Team, becoming the only rookie on the squad and the first Cowboys rookie named to the team since running back Calvin Hill in 1969.
In 2015, Martin produced another All-Pro caliber season despite the departure of DeMarco Murray to the Philadelphia Eagles. He helped lead the NFL’s ninth-best rushing attack, with teammate Darren McFadden finishing fourth in the league with 1,089 rushing yards. Martin played for Team Irvin in the 2016 Pro Bowl and was named second-team All-Pro by the AP.
Dallas Cowboys Breakthrough (2016-2019)
In 2016, Martin was named to his third straight Pro Bowl and earned first-team All-Pro honors, sharing those distinctions with fellow offensive linemen Travis Frederick and Tyron Smith. He was also ranked 58th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017. The Cowboys picked up the fifth-year option on Martin’s rookie contract on April 18, 2017, and he was named to his fourth straight Pro Bowl alongside Smith and Frederick. He was ranked 71st by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.
On June 13, 2018, Martin signed a six-year, $84 million contract extension with $40 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL at the time. He suffered a knee injury in Week 14 that year and missed the following game, the first of his career. In 2019, Martin became one of only five offensive linemen in league history to make the Pro Bowl in each of their first six seasons, joining an elite group that included Joe Thomas and Richmond Webb.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2020-2024)
In Week 11 of the 2020 season, Martin made his first career start at right tackle due to injuries along the offensive line. He was later placed on injured reserve with a calf strain before being activated in early January 2021. On September 5, 2021, Martin was ruled out for the Cowboys’ season opener after testing positive for COVID-19. He bounced back to start all 17 games in 2022, playing 1,143 offensive snaps, receiving only one holding penalty, and not allowing a single sack, earning first-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod.
On September 14, 2023, during a victory over the New York Jets, Martin suffered an ankle injury that caused him to miss time. He started 10 games for the Cowboys in 2024 before it was announced on December 5, 2024, that he would undergo season-ending ankle surgery. On February 20, 2025, Martin officially announced his retirement from football after 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
Notable Events and Milestones
Martin’s most significant off-field moment came on June 13, 2018, when he signed a six-year, $84 million extension, briefly making him the highest-paid guard in the league. In 2019, he joined a short list of offensive linemen to earn Pro Bowl invitations in each of their first six seasons. His 2022 season stood out statistically, as he played 1,143 offensive snaps without allowing a single sack while committing just one holding penalty.
Zack Martin Career Wins
Zack Martin never recorded individual statistical wins in the traditional sense as an offensive lineman, but his career is measured by accolades and team accomplishments. Across 11 NFL seasons, he earned nine Pro Bowl selections and nine All-Pro honors, including seven first-team All-Pro nods. Martin was also named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, cementing his legacy as one of the top guards of his generation.
Other Wins & Performances
In high school, Martin was part of back-to-back Indiana Class 3A state championship teams at Bishop Chatard. At Notre Dame, he helped lead the Fighting Irish to a 12-0 regular season in 2012 and a berth in the BCS National Championship Game. He capped his college career with MVP honors in the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl, becoming the first offensive lineman since 1959 to earn that distinction in a college bowl game.
Zack Martin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Martin comes from a family deeply rooted in football. His younger brother, Nick Martin, is also an NFL center who played college football at Notre Dame and was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. The two brothers grew up together in Indianapolis, attending Saint Matthew Catholic School and Bishop Chatard High School before both choosing Notre Dame.
Personal Life
Martin married his wife Morgan in July 2016. The couple has a son and a daughter. Morgan is the sister of former NFL tight end Tyler Eifert, who was Martin’s teammate and roommate at the University of Notre Dame before becoming his brother-in-law.
2025 Season Performance
Zack Martin’s 2025 story did not involve on-field performance. On February 20, 2025, he officially announced his retirement from professional football after 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, closing one of the most decorated careers by an offensive lineman in recent NFL history. His decision came after undergoing season-ending ankle surgery in December 2024, which limited him to 10 games in his final season.
Throughout his career, Martin set a standard of consistency at the guard position, earning nine Pro Bowl nods and nine All-Pro selections while never playing for any team other than Dallas. His retirement marks the end of an era for the Cowboys’ offensive line, which long featured Martin alongside Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick. He leaves the game recognized as one of the premier guards of his generation and a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.