Zach Martin was arguably the NFL’s top offensive lineman throughout the 2010s.
The nine-time Pro Bowler and nine-time All-Pro selection led the Cowboys’ offensive line during the final years of the Tony Romo era and the start of the Dak Prescott/Ezekiel Elliott era. Martin helped Elliott lead the league in rushing twice while helping lead the offense in scoring twice during his 11-season tenure (2014-2024) in Dallas.
While Martin is now retired, he still keeps close tabs on his former NFL team. The NFL 2010s All-Decade member took the time to sit down for a one-on-one interview to talk about his expectations for the current team, why Dak Prescott is so underappreciated, his thoughts on the future of George Pickens and his Icy Hot partnership.
Q: I want to transition into the Dallas Cowboys, a team that you played with your entire NFL career. Rough loss to the Cardinals, so they’re obviously getting a lot of flak for that. What are your current thoughts on this team? Can they win the NFC East?
Martin: Yeah, I mean, obviously it’s not where they want to be. I think coming into that season, there was a lot of promise, a lot of hope around the Cowboys’ organization, and they got off kind of a slow start. But the great thing is, everything’s right in front of them still, with the division being where it’s at. They’ve still got a couple — let’s say three division games — so it’s right there in front of them. They’re going to have to get on a little roll here.
The most important thing is getting that first win this week under their belt, and then stacking from there. But it’s right in front of them. Obviously a tough one against Arizona. So yeah, execution on both sides got to obviously pick up, and then obviously when you get to those situations with the offense to be able to close the game, that’s what they’re going to want to do.
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Q: Is the biggest Achilles heel for them right now the defense? Because the offense is still strong, right? They’re a top 10 offense; the defense is 27th in the NFL. Is it clear that they need to get that shored up?
Martin: Yeah, I think any time you get a new coach, new scheme, it takes some time, but I think you’re getting to the part of the season where you need to start settling in. I’m not saying they’re going to be a top 10 unit, but they for sure can play better.
And as the season progresses, you want to see that unit progress and get better each week. They’re coming up to Indy this week, so hopefully they can get started on a little bit of a roll.
Q: Yeah, it was said before the season. I talked to Emmitt Smith about this because they were bad last year on defense too: if they could be like a halfway decent defense, they’d be a playoff team, right? So that’s all they really need moving forward. Because they’re 27th right now, so if they could be like 16th or better, you would think they’re a playoff team.
Martin: Yep, and no doubt. I mean offensively, you got to execute when it matters the most, right? You scored a bunch of points last Sunday, but kind of when it came down to the stretch of the game, you got to lean on your best unit to go out and close it out.
Q: Yeah, you brought up their upcoming game. They play the Colts. So three of their four next games, those are games where they should be favored. Colts, Niners, they’re obviously not going to be favored there. But the Titans, Eagles after that, this is the stretch right now that will determine, “Okay, is this going to be a playoff team?”
Martin: 100%. The best thing they can do is focus on what they got going on. Take it one week at a time. One week at a time. It’s cliche to say, but honestly, in the NFL, that’s how you got to do it to be successful. You can’t be looking forward.
You can’t be looking at what New York’s doing, what Philly, Washington’s doing. You have to focus on what’s going on in that building and the people that are involved in it.
Q: Trade deadline’s obviously coming up. Jerry Jones is never really in sell mode. He did an interview recently. He said he’s not selling at the trade deadline. Do you think that they make any moves to the trade deadline, or would you expect them to mostly stand pat?
Martin: I would probably expect them to kind of stand their ground. I don’t really see, unless a player that we haven’t heard a whole lot about comes available that can be kind of a game game changing type of guy.
But I think right now, with some of the moves they made in the offseason, where they have some of their picks next year. I don’t expect them to really do anything at the trade deadline.
Q: Did you see Von Miller’s recent comments? I don’t know if you saw it for the Cardinals game, where he’s basically saying it’s not the coach’s fault; it’s on the players for us to execute. Based upon what you’re seeing in these games against the Cardinals and so forth, would you say that that’s the case?
Martin: Yeah, I mean, listen, it’s coach’s job to put you in positions to make plays, but then it’s on the players to go out and make those plays. So I think any time teams, the NFL are going through things like the Cowboys are going through. It’s not just one person’s deal, right? It’s a collective accountability through that whole group. I’ve been around a lot of those guys in the locker room.
A lot of those leaders were guys that I played with, so they got the right guys in the locker room. They just got to make a decision as a team to move forward and take accountability and get it right.
Q: I want to talk to you real quick about George Pickens. I know this topic has kind of died down because everybody’s focusing on the Cowboys’ losses, obviously on the franchise tag. What do you see his future being moving forward after this season? Obviously, he’s having an okay year, not the dominant year that he had last year. But where do you see his future being? Do you see him still getting the $35 million a year somewhere?
Martin: You know, I don’t know. Obviously, he’s a big time player, been a big time receiver in this league. We’ll see if the Cowboys can figure out the cap to keep him. Obviously, they’ve got some guys that are getting some big numbers, so it’s hard to get that all figured out at times. But I expect him to get. He’ll be playing somewhere for a big number, no doubt.
Q: Gotcha, Zach. I want to get your quick thoughts on Dak. What are your thoughts on his play this season? You obviously blocked for him. You know him better than anybody. What makes him such a great quarterback and great teammate? You personally knowing him.
Martin: Yeah, I think you know Dak has been great. I think he doesn’t always get the respect that he deserves, but he’s been a big time quarterback in this league for a long time. He’s probably the best leader that I’ve ever been around as far in a locker room. I know him though.
He’s continuing to get better at all times, and stuff like last week when they didn’t close out the game, that’ll stick in his cross. So I expect him to have a big game and continue playing well the rest of the season.
Q: Why would you say that he doesn’t get the respect that he deserves, because obviously the numbers are there, the longevity is there? Is it maybe because the lack of playoff success? Is that probably why the media criticizes him?
Martin: And then you know, hey, being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, there’s a lot that comes with that. There’s a lot of whatever you want to call it, pressure, adversity, eyes on you at all times, and I think people underestimate that side of it.
And it takes a special, special player, special guy to be able to handle all that stuff. And I think he’s done a great job over the last decade of being that guy for that organization.
Q: Zach, I know you’ve been retired for a couple of years, but do you keep in close contact with Zach or Jerry Jones or any of the Cowboys players?
Martin: Yeah, I still talk to Dak. I was down there, and the linemen that I played with, I was down there about a week ago before they played Philly. I was down there and went over to the facility and got to see everyone and went out to practice, and it was good to be back.
Q: What’s his best trait in your opinion?
Martin: Yeah, man. There’s a lot of — I would just say that his ability to — I’ve never met a guy that that has gone through more adversity in his life, and to have the ability to step up and be accountable and be the guy at such a pressured position at an organization like Dallas, kind of like I said earlier. I don’t think there’s too many people that could handle all that.
Q: It’s probably his character and his leadership that are his best traits. I never hear any of his teammates say anything bad about him.
Martin: He’s the leader, man, and he’s as good a teammate as I’ve ever been around.
Q: Zach, we’ll start winding things down. What is a successful season for the Cowboys? And if I ask you to make a prediction right now, do you think that they end up winning the NFC East?
Martin: Yeah, I think a successful season at this point is winning that NFC East and getting into the playoffs. I definitely think they can do it, man. I’m an optimist. I know they’re close. They got the guys in the building that got to put it together, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it came down to that Week 18 game versus the Giants to see who’s going to the playoffs.
Q: If they make it to the playoffs, can they make some noise potentially? Considering all the talent they have?
Martin: And the playoffs are all about who’s healthy and who’s playing the best at that moment, right? We had a lot of years we played really well at the beginning of the season, and before the playoffs, we were playing our best football, and it shows up when you get into the playoffs. So, if you’re hitting it at the right time, you can definitely make some noise.
Q: Who is the best guard in the NFL right now, and who was the toughest pass rusher in the NFL when you played during your career?
Martin: Toughest pass rusher that I played with or played against by far was Aaron Donald. Best guard in the NFL right now. I mean, I love Quenton Nelson, obviously, my Notre Dame roots. He went out to Seattle. You saw they obviously they didn’t get a win, but he had a big impact on that game. And I love Chris Lindstrom from down in Atlanta too.
Q: Okay, as a Notre Dame alum, do you talk to Quenton? Do you have a relationship with him? And then why was Aaron just so tough? Everybody says Aaron.
Martin: We never played together at Notre Dame, but I helped during his recruiting process a little bit, so got to spend some time with him. Stayed in touch over the years. I’m back in Indianapolis now, so I saw him this summer a few times.
So yeah, definitely stay in touch. And Aaron was so good because he can do everything. He can beat you in a ton of different ways. He can beat you with speed, power, quickness, hands. He can just do it all, in my opinion. You know, the best defensive player to ever play football.
Q: It’s kind of fun to see him back in the fold this season with the Rams, right?
Martin: It is, man. He’s crazy, but he’s back out there doing the thing.
Q: Let’s talk about what you are doing with Icy Hot.
Martin: Yeah, man. We partnered with Icy Hot earlier in the summer. Obviously, Notre Dame’s got a ton of tradition, and one of those biggest traditions is the push-ups after the touchdown. So they partnered with myself and Notre Dame, taking care of those students or hitting those push-ups.
And then they’re ending it at the last home game there, November 21 before the SMU game. They’re having a push-up competition where they’ll be handing out a $1,000 grand prize. So it’s been a great deal this year. And make sure you show up at the Joyce Center there before that SMU game.
Q: All right, so $1,000 grand prize to a lucky student over there. Is this the first time you’ve been partnered with Icy Hot?
Martin: Yeah, I’ve used them forever, right? Playing O line, obviously, always banged up. So I always use Icy Hot. I’ve been using them a lot as of late, right? You get a little older; those old bumps and bruises comes by, come back, and they got this new scented roll-on stick that’s been big.
I like the citrus; it a little easier on nostrils, and they’ve been taking care of me even after retirement.
