Jets Amazed at Tyron Smith: 'How’s He 300-Pounds With An 8-Pack?!'

Over the last decade, Tyron Smith has been one of the more dominant and consistent left tackles in the NFL.

At 33 years old, Smith's playing career may be in the twilight stages of his career, but a new home with the New York Jets has given him a fresh perspective on life in the NFL.

"It's a great organization," Smith said after practice Saturday afternoon. "I felt it would be a great fit for me moving forward."

Smith signed a one-year deal with the Jets during the offseason for just $6.5 million. While he spent the first 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys the decision to join the Jets had more to do with the organization's push for a championship more than anything else.

Even if that means being apart from his family at this point in training camp.

"For me, everything is a little different right now," Smith explained. "For me it's just being away from family, usually the family is with me during camp. It's a little difficult right now being over here and they are in Dallas right now."

Smith's commitment to the Jets has just been one of the reasons why the organization has been so impressed by the two-time First-Team All-Pro.

For some members of New York, that amazement began the minute Smith walked into the locker room.

"You just look at him," Jets running back Breece Hall said. "The first day I saw him, I just walked in the locker room, and I was just like 'How's he 300-something pounds with an eight pack?!"

While his durability remains a key focus for him over the last few years, Smith has done more than just perform on the football field. He's also taken a large hand in helping to develop some of the younger players on the Jets roster including 11th overall pick Olu Fashanu.

It's that willingness to teach that has made Smith such a welcome member in the eyes of the Jets. Even if it's something he knows needs to happen to get the Jets to end their 13-year playoff drought.

"Anything we got going on as far as drills with the offensive line, it's time to talk to your guys and help them out," Smith said. "I'm not the ra-ra type of guy, I'm going to pull you to the side to help tweak anything that's going on. Anything that needs to be done."

Of course, being a good locker room teammate is only part of Smith's strength. He may have only played in 30 games over the last four seasons, but the former Cowboy is still a dominant player when healthy.

And someone the Jets can truly rely on through the 2024 season.

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"He plays so well with his length," Gang Green head coach Robert Saleh said. "He's got ridiculous length, and he plays so well with his hands. He’s always making first meaningful contact with his length in his hands and keeping people off his body. When you can do that, you don't even need pads, but he is a technician. He's savvy, he's violent, he's powerful and he's an unbelievable teammate."

Being in New York is a massive change for Tyron Smith right now, but his exploits on and off the field continue to shock members of the Jets as the dog days of training camp get underway.