The NFL Draft tradition of having former players announce later-round picks continues in 2025. In Round 2, past and present players will take the stage to reveal selections for the teams they once represented.
One of those players is former Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick. He played for the Cowboys from 2013 to 2019 and was one of the best centers in the NFL during that time.
A Look Back at Travis Frederick’s Career
Travis Frederick was born in Sharon, Wisconsin, on March 18, 1991. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, suiting up for the Badgers from 2009 to 2012. He made history by becoming the first freshman in school history to start a game on the offensive line.
After redshirting the 2010 season, Frederick returned to the starting lineup in 2011 and 2012, playing center and guard. In 2012, he earned First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten honors, cementing his status as one of the top offensive linemen in the country.
The Cowboys drafted him in the first round in 2013, taking him with the 31st overall pick. Some critics questioned the pick then, but Frederick quickly proved them wrong. He started immediately and became a key part of one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
From 2015 to 2017, Frederick didn’t allow a single sack and played every game. His dominance earned him Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2014 and 2015, and a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2016.
In 2018, Frederick missed the entire season after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome—a rare disorder that affects the nervous system. He returned in 2019 and made the Pro Bowl in his comeback season.
In a 2019 interview, Frederick shared some details about the rarity of the syndrome and the treatments he had to undergo to come back and play football again:
“I had never heard of [Guillain-Barré syndrome]. Neither did most people, not even the doctors. The neurosurgeon had only seen it twice. He is one of the top neurosurgeons in the country. When you have something that rare, that’s when you know there is something going on.”
To help with recovery, Frederick used a Sleep Number bed with a zero-gravity setup to improve his sleep. It helped ease the effects of the syndrome and support his physical healing.
After the 2019 season, Frederick announced his retirement from the NFL to prioritize his health and family. During his time in the league, he was considered one of his era’s best and most consistent centers, earning five Pro Bowl selections in six eligible seasons and being named to the All-Pro team three times, between First and Second Team honors.
Now, at 34 years old, Frederick is set to announce the Dallas Cowboys’ second- and third-round picks during this week’s NFL Draft. He’s expected to receive a warm ovation from Cowboys fans attending the event.