The Dallas Cowboys’ best player has announced his retirement and agreed to terms on a new deal with a different team.
All-Pro center Travis Frederick made his retirement announcement on Monday, adding a significant and unexpected departure to an offseason that already had the Dallas Cowboys reeling from a barrage of losses in free agency.
Along with safety Jeff Heath, tight end Jason Witten, defensive tackle Maliek Collins, slot receiver Randall Cobb, defensive end Robert Quinn, and cornerback Byron Jones, Frederick is the seventh starter from Dallas to depart this offseason.
In addition, Frederick represents the offensive line’s third loss after Cameron Fleming and Xavier Su’a-Filo, two important backups, left in free agency.
Even though each of those losses was painful, Frederick’s leaving is probably the most unexpected. After being selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2013 draft, the three-time All-Pro has established himself as one of the league’s top centers.
Frederick, who turned 29 on March 18, was contracted through the 2023 season. Guillain-Barré syndrome, an immune disorder, was discovered during training camp, and he missed the 2018 season before playing again in 2019.
In the interim, his retirement will result in $11.346 million in dead money on the salary cap; however, Dallas may try to recover $10.39 million in restructure bonuses that were distributed over the course of 2020–2022.
Frederick gave two reasons in his statement for his resignation: reevaluating his priorities and his diagnosis.
Frederick remarked, “I embarked on a journey nearly two years ago that totally caught me off guard.” “I was ill-prepared to deal with Guillain-Barré Syndrome when I got it. I felt afraid. I had to reassess my priorities in life as a result of that experience. That year, I thought about the past and the future a lot. I became aware of how lucky I was to be paid to play video games. I became aware of how lucky I was to meet and work with some amazing men. Above all, I came to understand the value of my family and how much I want to support them through their highs and lows, just as they did for me.
“Football is dangerous,” he went on. “Players know that every day they report to work could be their last one on the field. I had to think about life after football because I was facing the possibility that my illness would end my career. I had to get ready for the possibility of my career ending. Some athletes are afraid of the day when their lives aren’t all about football—that is, the instant they give up the game that has defined their identities and aspirations for twenty years. After months of reflection, I was surprised to find that, in addition to accepting the moment, I was actually looking forward to it. I was prepared for the next phase of my life, but my competitive nature would not allow me to leave without going back to the game. It was a challenging year for me, but I managed to get back on the field, performed well overall, and was selected to the Pro Bowl. I struggled every day because I was no longer able to give my best effort. I don’t expect myself to play “well,” and my teammates don’t deserve it either. I’m aware that this means my time as a football player is over. I leave with my head held high, proud of what I have accomplished in my career.
Frederick was praised as “[T]he core piece of what I believe to be one of the most talented and skilled NFL offensive lines that has been assembled” in a statement released by team owner Jerry Jones on Monday.
For many years, Jones claimed, “his leadership qualities, productivity, and intelligence placed him at the top level of interior offensive linemen in our league.” “A rare display of courage and determination in overcoming a life-threatening illness and returning to the game—a challenge that could only be completed by a person with rare levels of perseverance and strength—surpassed his career on the field at the pinnacle of his success.”
Frederick leaves a hole that may require some juggling to fill. Frederick has been a pillar in the middle of the Cowboys’ most talented offensive lines since 2013. Neither a clear-cut quality center in free agency nor one good enough to be selected with the 17th pick in the draft is available. The Cowboys may try to trade back and select Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz, who is regarded as a fringe first-round pick, in order to stack other picks.
