Emmitt Smith

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Smith's journey began at Escambia High School, where he became the second-leading rusher in American high school football history with 8,804 yards and 106 touchdowns. Despite being labeled a "lugger" by recruiting expert Max Emfinger who claimed Smith was too slow to succeed, Smith silenced critics by winning national player of the year honors in 1986. He attended the University of Florida under coach Galen Hall, where he set 58 school records despite playing on teams with virtually no passing game. His freshman season saw him break a 57-year-old single-game rushing record against Alabama with 224 yards, and his junior year culminated in a unanimous All-American selection before he entered the 1990 NFL draft.

In Their Own Story

Selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 17th overall pick after they traded up from the 21st spot, Smith overcame a rookie holdout to become an immediate force. In his first season (1990), he earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after rushing for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns. His dominance peaked in 1993, a singular year where he secured the Super Bowl, NFL MVP, rushing crown, and Super Bowl MVP simultaneously. He led the league in rushing three consecutive times, joining Steve Van Buren, Jim Brown, and Earl Campbell as the only backs to do so. Alongside Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin, known as "The Triplets," Smith powered the Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories (1992, 1993, 1995), a feat that had never been done before by a running back leading the league in rushing.

Reader's Guide

Emmitt Smith's profile is built on his record-breaking yardage and touchdown totals. He rushed for 18,355 yards over 15 seasons, with 164 career rushing touchdowns, both all-time records. He led the NFL in rushing three times consecutively and won the Super Bowl while leading the league in rushing three separate years (1992, 1993, 1995). Smith is one of only two non-kickers to score over 1,000 career points. His legacy includes being named a unanimous All-American in 1989 and winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1990. He spent 13 seasons with the Cowboys before playing two years for the Arizona Cardinals.

Did You Know?

• Smith rushed for 8,804 yards in high school, the second-most in American history at the time.
• He is the only running back to win the Super Bowl, NFL MVP, rushing title, and Super Bowl MVP all in the same season (1993).
• Despite being called a 'lugger' by recruiting expert Max Emfinger, Smith broke 58 school records at the University of Florida.
• Smith is one of only two non-kickers in NFL history to score more than 1,000 career points.
• He led the league in rushing and won the Super Bowl in the same year three times (1992, 1993, and 1995), a feat never done before.

Early Life and High School Dominance

Born to Mary J. Smith and Emmitt James Smith Jr., Smith played his first organized game at age eight with a Salvation Army team. At Escambia High School, he ran track as a sprinter, posting a 42.16-second time on the 4x100 relay squad. His football career there was historic: he rushed for 8,804 yards and 106 touchdowns, figures that stood as the second-most in American high school history at the time. He gained over 100 yards in 45 of his 49 starts, including a streak of 28 consecutive games, while averaging 7.8 yards per carry. He twice broke the 2,000-yard mark in a season. In 1986, he was named national high school player of the year by USA Today, Parade Magazine, and Gatorade. Twenty years after graduation, the Florida High School Athletic Association recognized him as the state's Player of the Century.

University of Florida Career

Smith played for coach Galen Hall from 1987 to 1989. In his first start against Alabama in 1987, he broke a 57-year-old school record with 224 yards on 39 carries. He became the fastest running back to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a season, finishing as SEC and National Freshman of the Year. The 1988 season was marred by a sprained knee that sidelined him for a month, during which Florida lost four straight games without scoring a touchdown. He returned to win MVP of the All-American Bowl. In his junior year (1989), he set school records for rushing yards in a season (1,599) and career rushing yards (3,928). He finished with 36 career touchdowns and was named a unanimous first-team All-American before forgoing his senior year to enter the NFL draft.

NFL Career and Historic Achievements

Smith was selected 17th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990 NFL draft. He played 15 seasons, rushing for 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns, breaking Walter Payton's records. In 1993, he became the only running back to win the Super Bowl, MVP, rushing title, and Super Bowl MVP in the same year. He led the league in rushing three consecutive seasons, joining an elite group with Steve Van Buren, Jim Brown, and Earl Campbell. Smith also led the league in rushing while winning a Super Bowl three times (1992, 1993, 1995). He is one of only two non-kickers to score over 1,000 career points.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. During his 13 seasons with Dallas, he formed "The Triplets" with Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin, leading the team to three Super Bowl wins in the 1990s. He completed his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 1996 during an NFL off-season. In 2007, he was named to the Florida High School Athletic Association All-Century Team and recognized as the No. 3 player among the top 100 from the first 100 years of Gators football.