NEW ORLEANS – Zack Martin finds himself in a bittersweet situation in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX. On one hand, he’s the Cowboys’ nominee for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award, one of the NFL’s highest honors.

On the other hand, he’s not participating in the game for a chance to win a Lombardi trophy.

“It’ll be cool to experience it as a fan, but obviously, I wish we could’ve played in it at some point in my career,” Martin shared.

Martin, who turned 34 in November and missed the last seven games of the 2024 season due to an ankle injury, faces a significant decision about whether he wants to return for his 12th NFL season.

“My first priority is to get healthy. Over the next month or six weeks, my wife and I have been discussing it,” Martin explained about his timeline for the decision. “Right now, I’m focusing on getting my ankle repaired and seeing how I feel, whether I’m going to try again or not.”

The health of his ankle is just part of the equation. Martin also wants to ensure that he can still perform at the elite level he’s maintained throughout his career.

“Mentally, if I’m ready to go, I know what it takes to be an elite player and all the work that goes into it,” Martin reflected. “I need to make sure I’m mentally prepared to commit to that for another year.”

A seven-time first-team All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler, Martin has nothing left to prove and is widely expected to be inducted into the Hall of Fame when he decides to retire. However, thoughts of joining football’s elite in Canton have not crossed his mind yet, as he remains focused on the present, as he always has.

“I think I’ve done a good job of staying focused on what’s in front of me throughout my career, and that’s what I’m trying to do now,” Martin said.

“I’m still figuring out what the next chapter of my life looks like—whether that’s playing football in Dallas, somewhere else, or retiring. That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” he added.

The 2024 season marked the first time in Martin’s career that he was placed on injured reserve. To add to the challenges, the Cowboys started the season 3-7, making for a tough year overall.

“It was tough,” Martin admitted. “If you asked anyone in the locker room, it was a weird year for all of us. We had high expectations after three great seasons, but for some reason, things just didn’t click this year. It was difficult.”

Now, Brian Schottenheimer faces the task of turning around the disappointing season in his first stint as head coach. He has already made a strong impression on many in the organization, including Martin.

“I’m excited for him,” Martin said. “He’s built good relationships within the building over the last couple of years. He’s great at connecting with everyone, whether it’s offensive or defensive players.”

“I know one of his main goals is to foster strong relationships within the team and with the staff, and I think he’ll do a great job with that,” Martin continued.

Schottenheimer is known for his successful run game strategies during his time as a coordinator, and with the hiring of offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, it’s clear that the Cowboys will focus on that aspect of their offense, something Martin is eager about.

“He’s committed to the run game and building off of that,” Martin said. “The new hires are all in on that style of football, using the run to establish our identity as a team.”

As Martin takes the next few weeks to consider his future, there still seems to be a part of him that yearns to wear the Cowboys’ helmet again in 2025.

“A little bit,” Martin laughed when asked if he wants to return.