Dallas Cowboys All-Pro guard Zack Martin took his seat at the table in between Jerry and Stephen Jones on Thursday morning at The Star and officially retired from the NFL.
"It was an absolute privilege to run out of the tunnel every Sunday and give this city everything I had," Martin said. "I know many of you may have seen this decision coming, but that doesn't make it any easier. Football has been a huge part of my life.
"It's what I know. It's what I love. It's what has shaped me for as long as I can remember. I did not make this decision lightly. It comes after a long thought and prayer. But the time has come for my football journey to reach its end."
Several of Martin's former teammates including Dak Prescott, Tony Romo, Tyron Smith, and Travis Frederick were on hand for Martin's farewell.
They'll have at least two more opportunities to show their support for Martin - when he gets inducted into the Cowboys' Ring of Honor and when he gets his gold jacket.
Jones confirmed on Thursday that Martin will, in fact, be inducted into the Ring of Honor before Martin becomes eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2030.
"Yes," said Jones, when asked if he would commit to that.
Martin became emotional when asked about the likelihood of being inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Ring of Honor.
"[It] would mean a great deal," Martin said. "When I came into the league, none of that stuff was ever on my radar. I was just trying to get in here and make sure I didn't screw it up. They drafted me to play right away and my focus was on, 'Hey, I'm gonna do whatever I can for the team.'
"Obviously, I started having some success and those things get brought up, and you start to think about it a little bit. It would absolutely be an honor to be in there one day."