It's an end of era.
Cowboys All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith, who spent the first 13 years of his career in Dallas, is expected to sign a one-year deal with the New York Jets, according to multiple reports.
Smith can earn up to $20 million in incentives, according to Rich Cimini and Adam Schefter of ESPN.
“I would’ve love to have stayed home in Dallas, but as we all know it’s a business the way it works," Smith told Josina Anderson of CBS Sports on Friday evening. "I still feel like the Jets have an opportunity to win it, and anything I can do for the team to help them out, I’m going to do me best to do it.”
Smith was expected to return to the Cowboys but the situation changed at the NFL Scouting Combine over two weeks ago when multiple insiders reported that Dallas and Smith's representatives were at an impasse in negotiations.
Still, the door wasn't completely closed on Smith returning to Dallas for a 14th season when the lineman went unsigned after the first four days of free agency.
Speaking at an event Thursday, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said the team was open to Smith coming back.
"No one thinks more of Tyron," Jones said. "Tyron Smith is going to be a Hall of Famer football player. He's had an amazing career and we certainly haven't shut the door on a continued career here in Dallas. He's a man's man and he's one of the great left tackles to ever play the game. No one feels better about Tyron Smith than this organization."
Smith, 33, was taken by the Cowboys with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Smith is one of the most decorated offensive linemen in franchise history, earning eight Pro Bowl nods, five All-Pro team honors - two of which were first-team - and making the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team.
Smith will go from protecting the blind side of one high-profile quarterback in Dak Prescott to another in Aaron Rodgers in New York.
“I feel like it’s going to be amazing. Of course me being with Dallas, he’s kicked our butts twice in the playoffs—so I know what he's capable of. Honestly, I’m just excited about the opportunity," Smith told Anderson of playing with Rodgers.