Former Dallas Cowboys star Tyron Smith made a career of playing left tackle in a way that many couldn’t. Now, in the early days of his retirement, he’s trying to help others reach that level.
Including Tyler Guyton, the player the Cowboys selected to replace him.
Smith recently hosted the first annual “Big and Beautiful presented by BTL” summit for offensive linemen in Las Vegas. Position or group-based meetups have gained in popularity across the league, as evidenced by George Kittle’s “Tight End University” and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s annual retreat with his fellow quarterbacks and pass catchers.
The offensive line summit hosted by Smith was a chance for offensive linemen to have their getaway in an uniquely offensive line way. They worked on UFC grappling techniques with fighters and even attended UFC 317. They worked on their blocking technique, sharing tips and tricks they’ve learned from their different paths and different coaches. They had access to a recovery lounge featuring BTL products for both physical and mental recovery — something Smith said he wished he had utilized during his 14-year career.
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“We’re not just out there grinding and beating each other down,” Smith said about the event, which was launched by Athletes First. “It’s more about picking each other’s brains and enhancing our games furthermore.”
There’s a lot for current players to learn from Smith, and at the summit there were plenty of eager students. That included Lions tackle Penei Sewell, former Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz and current Cowboys Tyler Smith and Tyler Guyton.
Those other players have found their footing in the NFL. Guyton, heading into his second year, is hoping to take that step this season.
The Cowboys put a lot on Guyton’s plate as a rookie last season despite not having a lot of experience. He started his college career as a defensive tackle at TCU before moving to offensive line. At Oklahoma, he played in 20 games on the offensive line, including 14 starts. Most of those were at right tackle.
With the Cowboys, he was asked to compete to be the immediate replacement for Smith, who had been a staple — and a perennial Pro Bowl candidate — for the Cowboys for over a decade. He was also asked to make the switch to left tackle. Once veteran Chuma Edoga was hurt in training camp, Guyton took over as the season-opening left tackle. He eventually started only 11 games due to injuries and inconsistent play. He was penalized 18 times, according to Pro Football Focus, and allowed six sacks and 26 pressures in 439 pass block snaps.
This offseason, Guyton didn’t shy away from the need to improve. He changed his diet significantly and added more stretching to his regimen. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer praised him for his commitment to being one of the earliest and most common visitors to the team facility, whether it was mandatory or voluntary.
“There are going to be ebbs and flows, but I understand that it already happened and it’s in the past, and I’m gonna move forward from it and learn from my mistakes,” Guyton said in May. “I have a lot to prove. I have a lot to work on. I didn’t do too good last season, and I want to do better.
“I want to be the guy that can be depended on. … I’m not going to make any excuses. I just didn’t play as good as I needed to last year.”
Guyton’s willingness to improve has also included a willingness to ask for help from others, including Smith. The two were seen working out during minicamp last month at The Star in Frisco. They also interacted during the summit in Las Vegas, which ran from June 25-28.
Former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Tyron Smith works out at the Big and Beautiful presented by BTL offensive lineman summit in Las Vegas, Nevada. The summit ran from June 25-28, 2025. Current Cowboys offensive linemen Tyler Smith and Tyler Guyton were among the attendees at the summit.(Athletes First)
There are certain things that Smith did that are hard to teach. His hands were as big as they were strong, making a punch from him debilitating.
“His hands, when they hit you? It was almost like it stopped your heart,” NFL Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware said at Smith’s retirement news conference earlier this offseason.
Smith’s hands were naturally gifted and nurtured to stop players in their tracks. That isn’t teachable. The way he punched, however, is something he could share. He worked with Guyton on both independent one-arm punching ― Smith’s specialty — and two-hand punches.
“I was trying to teach him … my mindset and what I’m looking at and how I’m striking,” Smith said, “and how to get that confidence when you strike. You need to know that you can punch through anybody and you can punch anything they throw at you … the main point is knowing your spots, knowing where to hit at and having confidence in it. Then I’d say at the end of the day it’s more repetition and knowing your length. He’s starting to understand where his spot is, where his length is, where to punch and where not to punch.
“I think it’s going to be a different game play for him this year.”
Smith and Guyton never played together, but during their brief time together at The Star and at the Big and Beautiful BTL summit in Las Vegas, Smith saw a young player who was doing the right things to improve.
“I can tell he’s taking it to a point where he wants to get better. He wants to improve and he just needs a little technique here and there, which he’s honing in on right now in the same way as Tyler Smith. He has that raw talent and he just needs to learn how to use it, which he’s doing now.”
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