Former USC football OT Tyron Smith retires from the NFL

As evidenced by Monday's WNBA Draft, the Trojans produce professional talent on campus. USC football saw one of the players they sent to the NFL have a successful career. Mostly playing for the Dallas Cowboys and being considered one of the best at his position, the 14-year veteran will be stepping away from the game.

Tyron Smith, as reported and shared on X by Ian Rapoport, will not be returning for a 15th year in the league. As a member of the Cowboys, the offensive tackle made it to eight Pro Bowls and the 2010s All-Decade team. He was twice named to the First-Team All-Pro and then to the Second-Team All-Pro on three occasions. For someone who protected the blindside of the quarterback throughout his career, he did so at an incredible level for over a decade. 

He finished his career with the Jets, as the organization saw his body of work and felt good bringing him in after blocking for as long as he did in Dallas. He has made the choice not to return for the 2025-2026 year, but it's safe to say that he would have been welcomed back. Unfortunately for him, a neck injury cut his season short as he was placed on IR. He will now sign a one-day contract with the team that drafted him and officially retire a Cowboy.

Smith as a tackle with USC football

While with the Trojans, he similarly left a huge impact on the program. As a sophomore, Smith started in all of the games at right tackle. During the 2009 season he made honorable mention of the all-Pac-12 team. In 2010 he then took his game to the next level and earned a First-Team All-Pac-10 selection. He was also the recipient of the Morris Award, an honor for the most distinguished lineman on both the offensive and defensive sides, in the then-Pac-10.

For someone who stood out on film while with the Trojans and then went on to have tremendous success in the NFL, the retirement comes as an excellent opportunity to celebrate Smith's career, both from his USC football playing days and while in the NFL.