There has been a recent trend of players retiring in the NFL before they turn 30 years old, and Travis Frederick of the Dallas Cowboys is the latest player to do so. Just a day after he announced his decision, Jerry Jones reacted to the sudden retirement of Frederick.
The Cowboys selected Frederick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Coming out of Wisconsin, Frederick wasn't considered as one of the coveted interior linemen prospects. However, he silenced the doubters by becoming one of the best centers in the NFL.
For six of his seven seasons, Frederick anchored the middle of Dallas' offensive line. The Wisconsin product was part of arguably the best offensive line in the NFL with Tyron Smith and Zack Martin. Throughout his career, he earned one first-team All-Pro honor. Also, he was named to the Pro Bowl in five of his seven seasons.
In the six seasons that he was able to play, Frederick didn't miss a single game, starting in 96 contests. But in 2018, the former first-round pick was unable to suit up due to being stricken with Guillain-Barre syndrome. Even though he wasn't able to play that season, he continued to be a phenomenal leader off of the field.
With Frederick beginning his life after football, Jones realizes that the Cowboys have some big shoes to fill at the center position. At the same time, new head coach Mike McCarthy will be tasked with helping to find his replacement. Given that Dallas doesn't currently have a viable replacement on the roster, they'll likely address the position in the 2020 NFL Draft.
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