Smith’s 13-year stint in Dallas over

Left tackle will sign 1-year deal with Jets to protect Rodgers

Tyron Smith has been one of the most dominant players in the Cowboys’ rich history.

He will close the chapter on what should be a Hall of Fame career somewhere else. Smith plans to sign with the New York Jets, a person familiar with his decision told the Dallas Morning News on Friday. Smith’s deal with the Jets is for one season, with incentives that could reach $20 million.

Smith told NFL insider Josina Anderson that he would have “loved” to stay home in Dallas but understands the business side of things.

“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 said.

Smith added that the deal with the Jets started ramping up Thursday evening. He said he looks forward to working with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

“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,” Smith said. “Honestly, I’m just excited about the opportunity.”

The 33-year-old left tackle turned back the clock last season, starting 13 games and displaying the overpowering style that led

him to be named to the NFL’s AllDecade Team for the 2010s. But the decision about going forward with Smith has never been solely about his level of performance when he’s on the field.

It’s about how often he makes it to the field.

Mike McCarthy has been the Cowboys head coach for 67 regular season games over the last four years. Smith has been available for 30 of those games. He started a total of just 17 games in McCarthy’s first three seasons with the team.

Back, neck, knee, ankle, hamstring and elbow injuries have

conspired to beat Smith in a way opponents haven’t. The last full season where injuries didn’t rob the Cowboys offensive tackle of any starts came in 2015.

The schedule the training staff devised — he worked off to the side during the Wednesday and Thursday practices and only took part in the walk-through sessions the remainder of the week — appeared to invigorate his career at this late stage. But the question remains: Is this past season repeatable if Smith continues to follow this routine going forward or was it an aberration, a final reminder of how dominant

he can be when healthy?

Smith has been a Pro Bowl fixture in the Cowboys offensive line for the better part of a decade. The ninth player taken in the ’11 draft — and the first player taken under tenure of head coach Jason Garrett — started at right tackle as a rookie before moving to the left tackle the next season.

The first 13 years of Smith’s career have been spent in Dallas. In addition to his All-Decade recognition, he was named to eight Pro Bowls and made either the first or second All-Pro team five times.

He has played in 161 games in his career.

Maria Lysaker/Associated Press Offensive tackle Tyron Smith played in just 30 of the Cowboys’ 67 games since Mike McCarthy took over as coach in 2020. He has been slowed by back, neck, knee, ankle and elbow injuries.