Taken 16th overall by Dallas out of Notre Dame in 2014, Zack Martin stepped straight into the starting right guard spot and immediately set the standard for offensive line excellence. His selection completed an elite front-five rebuilding effort in Big D, anchoring a line alongside Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick that would overpower defensive fronts for a decade.

Martin kicked off a historic chapter in his professional journey, earning Pro Bowl and AP All-Pro honors in each of his first six seasons (2014–2019), with four being First-Team All-Pro selections. His remarkable impact as a newcomer was so significant that he was the runner-up for the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, an rare achievement for an interior lineman. With superb technical footwork and strong core stability, Martin became a virtually impenetrable pass protector, drawing only seven holding penalties throughout his 11-year career.

A consensus member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Martin carried his standard-setting play straight into the next decade. He collected three more Pro Bowl honors and three additional First-Team All-Pro selections in the 2020s, cementing his status as the premier guard of his generation. By the end of his prime, his seven career First-Team All-Pro selections tied Hall of Famers John Hannah and Randall McDaniel for the most by a guard in NFL history.

After battling through a late-season ankle injury that required surgery in 2024, Martin officially announced his retirement from the NFL following his 11th season.  Martin started all 162 regular-season games he played in. Though an elusive Super Bowl ring ultimately evaded his resume, his nine Pro Bowl invitations, nine All-Pro selections, and utter dominance at the line of scrimmage assure him a future place in both the Cowboys Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.