FRISCO, TEXAS — Dallas Cowboys’ all-pro center Travis Frederick retires at age 29. He took to twitter to announce his decision to part ways with the game of football on Monday evening.
“ I made my return to the field, played well overall, and was selected to the Pro Bowl, but it was a difficult year for me. Each day I faced a struggle: I could no longer perform at my highest level. Paying “well” is not what I expect of myself and is not what my teammates deserve. Because of this, I know my days as a football player are done. I am proud of what I have accomplished in my career, and I walk away with my head held high.”
The seven-year veteran was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome and missed the entirety of the 2018 season. Joe Looney started in his absence and Frederick was active from a coaching aspect on the sideline helping his teammates in any way he could. He went from losing feeling in his limbs and not being able to take his daughter up the stairs to working his way back to the field in 2019 and starting all 16 games.
The Cowboys selected Frederick as the No.31 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. He was the centerpiece of Dallas’ offensive line throughout his career. He started in 96 games and was named to the Pro Bowl five times and earned Al-Pro honors three times. He helped provide Dak Prescott and Tony Romo with ample time in the pocket to release the ball and helped open up running lanes at the line of scrimmage that paved the way for three rushing champions during his tenure with Dallas: DeMarco Murray in in 2014 and Ezekiel Elliott in 2016 and 2018.
Dallas recently re-signed Joe Looney who will likely compete with Connor McGovern, who started every game at center for Penn State in 2017, for the Cowboys’ starting center role in 2020.
