Emmitt Smith
Drafted 17th overall by Dallas in 1990, Smith anchored a Cowboys dynasty almost immediately. He reached superstardom in the 1993 season, winning the NFL MVP and then Super Bowl XXVIII MVP, leading the league in rushing while powering Dallas to a second straight title. That year confirmed him as the era's premier running back.
Cornerstone of a Dynasty
Drafted in 1990, Emmitt Smith quickly became the engine of the Dallas Cowboys' 1990s dynasty. Behind a dominant offensive line, his blend of vision, balance, and toughness made him nearly unstoppable.
The 1993 Sweep
In 1993 Smith led the NFL in rushing, won the league MVP, and was named Super Bowl XXVIII MVP, an unmatched single-season trifecta. He helped Dallas win three Super Bowls in four years.
Rushing King
In 2002 Smith broke Walter Payton's career rushing record, finishing with 18,355 yards, still the most in NFL history. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a first-ballot selection in 2010.
Career Timeline
- 1990Drafted 17th overall by the Dallas Cowboys
- 1991Won first of four NFL rushing titles
- 1992Won Super Bowl XXVII over Buffalo
- 1993Won NFL MVP and Super Bowl XXVIII MVP
- 1995Won third Super Bowl title (XXX)
- 2002Broke Walter Payton's all-time rushing record
- 2003Signed with the Arizona Cardinals
- 2004Played final NFL season
- 2005Retired as the NFL's all-time rushing leader
- 2010Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame
Biggest Hits
- Smith is the only running back to win a Super Bowl, the NFL MVP, the rushing title, and the Super Bowl MVP in the same season (1993).
- He won the celebrity competition 'Dancing with the Stars' in 2006.
Portrait: John Trainor · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons