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Emmitt
Smith has made an impact on the NFL that few players can match at any position
or in any era. As the second ranked rusher in NFL history, Smith has also won
four NFL rushing titles, three Super Bowl titles and a league (1993) and Super
Bowl (XXVIII) MVP award. When looking at Smith's career numbers, it's easy to
see why he will be remembered as one of the greatest NFL players of all-time.
His career rushing total of 15,166 yards has him trailing only Walter Payton
(16,726) and Barry Sanders (15,269). Smith is the NFL's career rushing
touchdowns leader with 145 and stands second in league annals in total
touchdowns with 156, trailing the all-time leader, Jerry Rice, by 31. Already
the first player in NFL history with five straight seasons with over 1,400 yards
rushing, Smith and Jim Brown are the only players with seven straight
10-touchdown seasons to start their career. With 1,203 yards rushing in 2000,
Smith became just the second player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in 10
consecutive seasons (Barry Sanders) and only the third player in NFL history to
post 10 1,000 yard rushing seasons in his career (Payton, Sanders). He is also
second on the NFL's all-time rushing attempts list with 3,537, trailing only
Payton (3,838). With an NFL record 25 touchdowns in 1995, Smith scored 100
career touchdowns in just six seasons, the fastest anyone in league history has
reached that mark (he tied Brown's NFL record by scoring 100 touchdowns in just
93 career games). His 145 career rushing touchdowns in 171 games gives him a
0.85 touchdown-per-game scoring average, second behind Brown's 0.90 for tops
among the all-time rushing touchdown scorers (John Riggins 0.59 and Walter
Payton 0.58 are next on the list). Smith is one of only three players in Dallas
history with three career 100 point seasons, and he is the only non-kicker to
accomplish the feat. His value to the Cowboys' success can be seen in the club's
92-23 mark (including playoffs) when he carries the ball 20-or-more times a game
and 60-17 record (including playoffs) when he rushes for 100 yards. The century
mark has become a big number in Smith's career, having rushed for 100 yards in
147-of-271 games going back to high school (45-of-49 at Escambia High School,
25-of-34 at Florida and 77-of-188 at Dallas, including playoffs). Included in
Smith's club-record 70 regular season 100-yard rushing games are 11 of the top
15 performances in team history and 18 days with over 150 yards (the fifth
highest total of 150-yard games in NFL history). In NFL annals, Smith's 70
100-yard rushing games rank third all-time behind Payton (77) and Sanders (76).
One reason Smith has become such a workhorse in the Dallas offense over the
years has been his ability to answer the bell at game time, starting 186 of a
potential 188 games with Dallas ' including playoffs. The only two missed starts
of his career due to injury came in the season finale at the N.Y. Giants on Dec.
24, 1994 and in a Nov. 14, 1999 game at Texas Stadium against Green Bay. That
durability has enabled Smith to lead the Cowboys in rushing in 154 of his 171
career regular season games. It has also allowed Smith to rush for 3,392 yards
since the start of the 1998 season ' the third highest yardage total in the NFL
over that time span. Smith has accumulated a number of NFL postseason records,
including rushing touchdowns (19), consecutive games with a rushing touchdown
(nine) and 100-yard rushing games (seven). His 1,586 yards rushing is also tops
on the NFL postseason chart, and he shares the total playoff touchdown mark of
21 with Thurman Thomas. Not limited to rushing and scoring, Smith is fourth on
the Cowboys all-time reception list with 453 career catches. He trails No. 3
Tony Hill (479) on that list by 26 receptions. He is one of only three NFL
players who have amassed over 10,000 career-rushing yards and 400 career
receptions. He is also sixth on the NFL's all-time combined yardage list with a
club record 17,973 yards. With 668 combined yards in 2001, he will move into
third on the NFL's all-time list. Smith is also the Cowboys all-time leading
scorer with 938 points.
2000
Smith continued his trek through league and club record books for the 11th
straight season. For the 10th consecutive season, he rushed for over 1,000 yards
(1,203), becoming only the second player in NFL history to accomplish that feat
(Sanders) and only the third player in history to total 10 career 1,000 yard
seasons (Sanders, Payton). His rushing effort ranked fourth in the NFC and 13th
in the NFL for the season. Following the season, he was selected to his ninth
Pro Bowl (missed due to a left ankle injury), the most of any Cowboy in
franchise history other than Bob Lilly (11 appearances) and Mel Renfro (10).
Among NFL running backs, only Sanders (10) has been selected to the Pro Bowl
more times than Smith. Smith started the season slowly, totaling 29 yards on
seven carries in limited playing time due to a lopsided score against
Philadelphia (9/3) and 59 yards on 16 carries at Arizona (9/10). With a
three-yard carry early in the Cardinals game, he became only the third running
back in NFL history to top the 14,000-career rushing yard mark. At Washington
(9/18), he led the team with 83 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. He was
limited to 11 carries for 31 yards and a touchdown against San Francisco (9/24)
before erupting for 132 yards and a touchdown ' the 150th overall touchdown of
his career ' on 24 carries at Carolina (10/1). Smith toted the ball 19 times for
61 yards and a touchdown at the N.Y. Giants (10/15), and he tallied 112 yards
and a score on 24 carries against Arizona (10/22), marking his fifth consecutive
game with a rushing touchdown. Against Jacksonville (10/29), he rushed for 102
yards on 24 carries to mark his first career 100-yard game against the Jaguars.
Smith recorded his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game when he ran for 134
yards and a touchdown on 26 carries at Philadelphia (11/5) while also catching a
pass for 15 yards, his 450th career reception. The Eagles game marked Smith's
fourth straight 100-yard game at Veterans Stadium and the 12th 100-yard game of
his career against Philadelphia, the most 100-yard games by a player against a
single opponent in league history. Against Cincinnati (11/12), Smith recorded
just 16 yards on 17 carries, the second lowest yardage total in a game he
started and did not leave due to injury in his career. He totaled 48 yards on 11
carries against the NFL's top defense at Baltimore (11/19) before scampering for
100 yards on 12 carries (8.3 avg.), including a season-long 52-yarder, against
Minnesota (11/23) before suffering a concussion early in the third quarter and
leaving the game. This effort marked his fourth 100-yard performance in five
regular season games against the Vikings. Smith carried the ball 20 times for 80
yards and a touchdown at Tampa Bay (12/3) before exploding for 150 yards and a
score on 23 carries (6.5 avg.) against Washington (12/10). The Redskins game not
only marked his 70th career 100-yard game and sixth 100-yard day of the season
but allowed him to move past the 15,000 career rushing yard mark, becoming the
third player in NFL history to reach that milestone (Payton and Sanders). His
effort against the Redskins also allowed him to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for
the season, the 10th consecutive time he has done so. He closed the year with 46
yards and a touchdown on 24 carries against the N.Y. Giants (12/17) and 20 yards
on 12 carries at Tennessee (12/25).
1999
Smith finished second in the NFC, fourth in the NFL, in rushing with 1,397
yards. His rushing numbers marked his best season since the 1995 Super Bowl XXX
year when he led the NFL with 1,773 yards. He also registered more 100-yard
rushing games, nine, than in any other year other than 1995 when he recorded a
club record 11. His 11 rushing touchdowns were the fourth best total in the NFL
for 1999, and he had a touchdown in each of the first eight games of the season
and nine consecutive going back to 1998 ' a stretch that tied the third longest
streak in club history. Overall, his 13 touchdowns tied for third in the NFL in
total touchdowns. He was selected to his eighth NFC Pro Bowl squad, giving him
more Pro Bowl appearances that any other offensive player in Cowboys' history.
Smith opened the season at Washington (9/12) with 109 yards on 23 carries and
one touchdown. The following against Atlanta (9/20), he produced his second
consecutive 100-yard rushing game with a 109-yard performance. It was just the
third time in 29 games that an opposing player had rushed for over 100 yards
against the Falcons. He also had two rushing touchdowns in the game, the second
coming on a seven-yard run in the third quarter that moved Smith past Tony
Dorsett (12,739 yards) into fourth place on the NFL's all-time career rushing
list. In the Cowboys 35-7 win over Arizona (10/3), he picked up 77 yards on 22
carries and scored his fourth touchdown of the season. In the loss at
Philadelphia (10/10), Smith recorded his 3,000th career carry, becoming just the
fourth player in NFL history to reach that mark. For the day, he had 30 carries
for 114 yards and posted a season-high five receptions for 31 yards, giving him
145 combined net yards and moving him past Tony Dorsett (15,501) into first on
the Cowboys all-time combined net yardage list. The following week at New York
(10/18), he became the fourth player in NFL history to top the 13,000-yard mark
for career rushing yards with his 26 yards against the Giants. He also scored in
his sixth consecutive game. Against Washington (10/24), he tallied 24 carries
for 80 yards and a touchdown, moving him past Sanders (3,062) into second on the
NFL's all-time career carry list with 3,064. The following week at Indianapolis
(10/31), Smith scored two touchdowns for the second time in 1999 en route to a
22 carry, 93 yard rushing day. In the Cowboys loss at Minnesota (11/8), Smith
electrified the Monday night national television audience by rushing for 140
yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries in the game's first 24 minutes. He then
left the game with a fractured fourth metacarpal in his right hand. It was his
best rushing total in a half in his career, and his 10.8 yards-per-carry average
was a career-high. Included in his first half totals were 63 and 24-yard
touchdown runs on back-to-back carries just 18 seconds apart, the fastest anyone
has scored back-to-back touchdowns in league history. His 63-yard run was the
third longest of his career and it gave him the yardage necessary to move past
Eric Dickerson (13,259 yards) into third on the NFL's all-time rushing list. He
suffered the fracture on that run, but came back to run 24 yards for a score on
his next carry before leaving the game. That 24-yard score tied Marcus Allen for
second all-time on the NFL's touchdown list with 145. On Nov. 9, Dr. Hugh
Frederick performed surgery to place a plate and six screws in his fractured
right hand. The broken bone in his hand forced Smith to miss only the second
start due to an injury of his career in the Cowboys win over Green Bay (11/14).
The next week at Arizona (11/21), while playing with a padded glove on his
fractured right hand, Smith recorded the 60th regular season 100-yard rushing
day of his career with 127 yards on 29 carries (4.4 avg.). In the Cowboys' 20-0
Thanksgiving Day win over Miami (11/25), he led the team in rushing with 103
yards on a season-high 31 carries, it was his third consecutive 100-yard rushing
game and the 61st of his career. At New England (12/5), he had his string of
three 100-yard rushing games snapped with a 75 yard game (19 carries). In the
loss to the Patriots, he went over the 1,000 yard mark for the season, marking
his ninth consecutive 1,000-yard season. In the Cowboys' win over Philadelphia
(12/12), he recorded one carry for two yards before leaving the game in the
first quarter with a strained groin. The following week in the loss to the N.Y.
Jets (12/19), he returned to the starting lineup and recorded his seventh
100-yard rushing game of the season with 19 carries for 110 yards (5.8 avg.). He
also had a season-high 36 yards receiving, including a 14-yard touchdown grab
from Aikman. That scoring catch was his 146th career touchdown, moving him into
sole possession of second place on the NFL's all-time touchdown list. The score
also made him the club record-holder for career points (878), breaking the mark
of 874 set by Rafael Septien. On Christmas Eve at New Orleans (12/24), Smith
posted his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season with 110 yards on 23
carries (4.8 avg.). He also scored his 11th rushing touchdown of the year. In
the playoff clinching win over the N.Y. Giants (1/2/00), he posted a 100-yard
game for the third straight week ' and the ninth time on the season ' with a 22
carry, 122 yard outing. That performance, which included a 45-yard run, marked
the 64th 100-yard rushing game of his career, tying Eric Dickerson for the third
most in NFL history. He closed another historic season in the playoff loss at
Minnesota (1/9/00) by rushing for 99 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. In the
first quarter, he recorded a 65-yard run to set up a Dallas field goal. It was
the longest postseason run in Cowboys history. When the day ended, he became the
NFL's all-time leader in career postseason rushing yards (1,586) and rushing
touchdowns (19). He also tied the NFL postseason career touchdown record ' 21 by
Thurman Thomas.
1998
With a resurgence that saw him rush for more yards and touchdowns than he's had
in a season since 1995, Smith continued his movement through NFL and Cowboys
record books. With 1,332 yards rushing, he finished fourth in the NFC, fifth in
the NFL, in rushing. He finished second in the NFC, fourth in the NFL, with 13
rushing touchdowns, giving him a NFL record 125 career-rushing touchdowns. With
his seventh Pro Bowl selection, he became the only offensive player in club
history to be invited to Hawaii that many times. Smith opened the year against
Arizona (9/6) with a season-high 29 carries for 124 yards, moving past O.J.
Simpson and John Riggins into ninth on the NFL's all-time rushing yards list. At
the N.Y. Giants (9/21), Smith totaled 21 yards on seven carries before suffering
a strained groin in the second quarter. His strained groin limited him the next
week against Oakland (9/27) as he rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown on 21
carries. He registered the 50th 100-yard rushing day of his career when the
Cowboys traveled to Washington (10/4), totaling 120 yards and a touchdown on 28
carries. For the first time in back-to-back games since December of 1995, Smith
again posted a 100-yard game, totaling 112 yards on 21 carries against Carolina
(10/11). He joined the Michael Irvin (146 yards receiving)/Ernie Mills (110)
tandem against the Panthers to become the third trio in club history to top the
100-yard mark in the same game (one rushing and two receiving). Smith gained 101
yards on 23 carries at Philadelphia (11/2) to surpass Tony Dorsett's club record
for career carries (2,755), finishing the game with 2,760. Smith broke Dorsett's
club record for career rushing yards the next week against the N.Y. Giants
(11/8) with a season-high 163 yards on 29 carries. He passed Dorsett (12,036) on
a season-long tying 32-yard run in the second quarter. He also led the team in
receiving against the Giants with five catches, putting him over the 400-career
reception plateau. At Arizona (11/15), he totaled 118 yards and three touchdowns
on 26 carries to move past Franco Harris into seventh place on the NFL's
all-time rushing list. The Cardinals game also marked the first time since 1995
that Smith recorded three consecutive 100-yard rushing days. He registered 74
yards on 17 carries against Seattle (11/22), moving him past 1,000 rushing yards
for the eighth consecutive season and past Marcus Allen into sixth place on the
NFL's all-time rushing list. Four days later on Thanksgiving Day against
Minnesota (11/26), he registered his second three touchdown day of the month,
No. 121, 122 and 123 of his career, tying Marcus Allen's NFL record for career
rushing touchdowns (123). His 44 rushing yards moved him past Jim Brown into
fifth on the NFL's all-time list. After posting a career-low 0.4 average on 15
carries at New Orleans (12/6) and totaling 42 yards on 14 rushes at Kansas City
(12/13), Smith rebounded against Philadelphia (12/20) with his seventh 100-yard
game of the season. He carried the ball 25 times for 110 yards against the
Eagles to become the 12th player in NFL history to top the 15,000 total yard
mark in a career. In only one half of action against Washington (12/27) in the
season finale, he totaled 67 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. Smith's two
scores, career touchdowns 124 and 125, broke Marcus Allen's NFL career rushing
touchdowns record (123). Against Arizona (1/2/99) in the postseason, Smith
totaled 74 yards on 16 carries.
1997
Smith's assault on the Dallas Cowboys and NFL record books continued at a hectic
pace. With 1,074 yards rushing, he finished the year fifth in the NFC, 12th in
the NFL, in rushing yards. His 1,308 total yards from scrimmage marked the
eighth straight season he has topped the 1,000 yard mark in that category.
Returning from offseason ankle surgery, Smith opened the season with 26 carries
for 69 yards and three receptions for 25 yards in the 37-7 win at Pittsburgh
(8/31). He had a season-high 132 yards rushing, including a season-long 44-yard
carry, at Arizona (9/7) the following week. He did that despite missing part of
the fourth quarter and overtime after suffering bruised ribs. The 44-yard run
was his longest since a 60-yard touchdown run in the 1995 season opener at the
N.Y. Giants. Early in the season against NFC East foes, Smith posted a
season-high 27 carries for 91 yards against Philadelphia (9/15) on Monday Night
Football and had a season-high six receptions and 91 yards rushing on 19 carries
at the N.Y. Giants (10/5). With two receptions for 23 yards at Washington
(10/13), Smith moved past Bob Hayes (365) into fifth place on the team's
all-time reception list with 366 career catches. In a 26-22 come-from-behind win
over Jacksonville (10/19), he ran 24 times for 75 yards and scored on a one-yard
run, his first touchdown of the season. For the second time in 1997, Smith
topped the 100-yard mark with 126 yards on 25 carries at Philadelphia (10/26),
while also leading the team in receptions with five for 36 yards. He totaled 31
yards on seven carries at San Francisco (11/2) before leaving the game early in
the second quarter after straining his left groin. He returned the following
week against Arizona (11/9) and rushed 15 times for 64 yards and a touchdown. It
was his 117th career touchdown, moving him past John Riggins and into fifth
place on the NFL's all-time touchdown list. With 99 yards on 21 carries against
Washington (11/16), Smith moved past the 11,000-yard mark for career rushing
yards, becoming the 11th player in NFL history to pass that milestone. He also
added four receptions for 31 yards, tying him with Tony Dorsett for fourth on
the Cowboys all-time reception list with 382 career catches. Smith broke loose
on a 21-yard touchdown run at Green Bay (11/23) and finished the day with 11
carries for 59 yards. Smith picked up 22 yards on 10 carries and three
receptions for 20 yards against Tennessee (11/27) before leaving the game with a
bruised left shoulder early in the third quarter. He started against Carolina
(12/8) but re-aggravated the shoulder on the first drive and did not return,
finishing the day with two carries for three yards. While battling the flu at
Cincinnati (12/14), Smith ran 12 times for a team-high 68 yards, pushing his
season rushing total over the 1,000-yard mark for the seventh consecutive
season.
1996
Despite battling numerous injuries, Smith was able to rush for over 1,200
(1,204) yards for the sixth consecutive season, finishing fourth in the NFC and
eighth in the NFL. He tied for third in the NFL with 15 touchdowns ' including
12 rushing, which was good for fifth in the NFL ' while his 327 rushing attempts
were the fifth most in the league. Smith's injury problems started in the
preseason when he suffered a sprained left knee and right ankle against Denver
(8/17). In that game, Smith aggravated bone fragments in his right ankle that
would require surgery following the season. In the season opener at Chicago
(9/2), Smith was able to run for 70 yards on 18 carries before suffering a
bruised neck and back while diving over the pile in the fourth quarter. Against
the Bears, he became the 13th player in NFL history to top the 9,000 yard mark
for career rushing yards, doing so in his 94th career game, tying the third
fewest games needed to reach that mark in league history. In the home opener
against the N.Y. Giants (9/8), he picked up 82 yards on 24 carries and hauled in
a five yard scoring grab, his first touchdown reception since Dec. 10, 1994
against Cleveland. He scored his first rushing touchdown of the season the next
week against Indianapolis (9/15) while adding his first 100-yard rushing day of
the season with 101 yards on 26 carries. His 25 yards on 15 carries at Buffalo
(9/22) was his lowest rushing total since Oct. 9, 1994 against Arizona, and he
suffered bruised ribs in the game. Smith topped the 2,000-yard receiving mark
for his career at Philadelphia (9/30) when he had three receptions for 30 yards.
He also added 92 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries while nursing sore ribs.
With 112 yards rushing against Arizona (10/13), Smith recorded his 44th career
100-yard rushing day and topped Dorsett's club-record of 43. Included in his 21
carries were career rushing scores No. 100 and 101, making him the fifth player
in NFL history to rush for 100 touchdowns. He recorded three more touchdowns
against Atlanta (10/20), two rushing and one receiving, while leading the team
in rushing for the 33rd consecutive game ' breaking his club mark of 32 set from
1990-92. At Miami (10/27), Smith had a season-high seven receptions, including
one for a score, his third receiving touchdown of the season after having four
receiving touchdowns in his first six seasons combined. Smith had his third
100-yard rushing day of the season with 113 yards and two touchdowns on 24
carries against Philadelphia (11/3). A game-long 16-yard run in overtime at San
Francisco (11/10) set up the game-winning field goal at the 49ers 12-yard line.
Smith recorded season-highs of 155 yards, three touchdowns and 29 carries
against Washington (11/28). Included in his 155 yards was a season-long 42-yard
run. The 155 yards put him over the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth consecutive
season, and he became the 12th player in NFL history to top the 10,000-yard mark
for a career. He also moved past Jim Brown (106) into third on the NFL's
all-time rushing touchdown list with 108. Smith recorded a season-high 55 yards
receiving, on five receptions, and another 85 rushing on 27 carries against New
England (12/15). Smith's club-record streak of consecutive games leading the
team in rushing (which dated to Oct. 9, 1994 when Lincoln Coleman led the team
against Arizona) was snapped at 41 when he was inactive in the season finale at
Washington (12/22). In the Cowboys wild card playoff win over Minnesota (12/28),
he rushed for 116 yards on 17 carries, giving him a 6.8 yards-per-carry average,
which was a postseason career-high and the third best in team history. He picked
up two touchdowns, giving him a NFL record 18 postseason rushing scores, and he
tied the then NFL mark for career postseason touchdowns with 20. He also scored
in his eighth consecutive postseason game and logged his seventh career 100-yard
rushing day, both NFL postseason records. Following the season, Smith had
surgery to remove three bone fragments from his right ankle.
1995
The 1995 season was a record breaking year for Smith as he established a NFL
mark for touchdowns in a season with 25, topping John Riggins' mark of 24 set in
1983. Smith became only the fourth player to lead the NFL in touchdowns for
three-or-more seasons in his career, joining Don Hutson (eight seasons), Jim
Brown and Lance Alworth (three). In recording his fifth-straight 1,000 yard
season, Smith led the NFL in rushing with 1,773 yards, the 10th best rushing
season in NFL history at the time, and the fourth time in five years he had
captured the league's rushing crown. He also led the NFL in total yards from
scrimmage (2,148), rushing attempts (377) and scoring (150 points) ' the first
non-kicker to lead the league in scoring since Jerry Rice in 1987 (he became the
first non-kicker to ever lead Dallas in scoring in back-to-back seasons). All
these on-field contributions earned Smith consensus All-Pro honors for the
fourth straight season (first Dallas offensive player chosen four straight times
since Ralph Neely from 1966-69) and his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl selection,
joining Mel Renfro as the only Dallas players selected in each of their first
six seasons in the league. Smith opened the season by taking his first carry 60
yards for a touchdown at the N.Y. Giants (9/4) and earning NFC Offensive Player
of the Week honors. In that game, he rushed for 163 yards and four touchdowns,
tying the club record for touchdowns in a game, and he broke Dorsett's club
record of 72 career rushing scores by logging touchdowns number 72, 73, 74 and
75. Smith came back the next week against Denver (9/10) to run for 114 yards and
record his 80th career touchdown, reaching that mark in his 79th career game,
faster than Brown's NFL record of 81 games. A touchdown was again Smith's
calling card at Minnesota (9/17) when he reached the end zone in the fourth
quarter to put Dallas ahead 17-10 and again in overtime with the game-winning
score on a 31-yard run. On the day, he had 150 yards, including 123 yards and
both touchdowns on 12 second half carries, and earned NFC Offensive Player of
the Week honors. Smith rounded out September, a month in which he would earn NFC
Offensive Player of the Month honors, with his fourth-consecutive 100-yard day,
a 116 yard effort against Arizona (9/24). In posting four-straight 100-yard
days, Smith tied Dorsett's club record, and with two rushing touchdowns, he
extended his club record by scoring in his 11th consecutive game (tying Lenny
Moore of the Colts for the third longest streak in NFL history). Late in the
Cardinals game, he suffered a bruised ulnar nerve and ruptured bursa sac in his
left elbow, but he bounced back at Washington (10/1) to rush for 95 yards and
led the team with a season-high eight receptions. He had a season-high 31
carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay (10/8) before
establishing a new club record with his 87th and 88th career touchdowns at San
Diego (10/15). When the Cowboys traveled to Atlanta (10/29), Smith became the
20th player in NFL history to surpass the 8,000 yard mark for his career when he
rushed for a season-high 167 yards. He recorded his second-consecutive 150-yard
rushing day, fourth of the season, with 158 yards and two scores on 27 carries
against Philadelphia (11/6). When the Cowboys visited Oakland (11/19), Smith
visited the end zone three times while adding 110 yards rushing, his ninth
100-yard rushing day of the season ' tying Dorsett's club record for 100-yard
games in a season. Smith left the Thanksgiving Day game against Kansas City
(11/23) in the third quarter with a sprained left knee, but not before scoring
his 21st rushing touchdown of the season to tie his club record. He bounced back
from the sprain the following week to set a club record with his 22nd touchdown
of the season while gaining 91 yards on 21 carries against Washington (12/3).
With 108 yards and a touchdown at Philadelphia (12/10), Smith logged his 10th
100-yard rushing day of the season to set a new club record, while also scoring
his 23rd touchdown of the year and 138th point, also club records. The next week
against the N.Y. Giants (12/17), Smith tied the NFL record with his 24th
touchdown of the season, and his 103 yards rushing gave him his 11th 100-yard
day of the season, extending his club record and tying the second most in a
season in NFL history. The final record-breaking touchdown of the regular-season
came on Christmas night at Arizona (12/25) when Smith logged his 25th rushing
touchdown of the season, tying his club record with a touchdown in his 11th
consecutive game. In the postseason opener against Philadelphia (1/7/96), Smith
rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown to become the fifth player in NFL history to
accumulate 1,000 postseason rushing yards in a career. In the NFC Championship
Game against Green Bay (1/14/96), Smith tied a career-high and set a Dallas
postseason record with 35 carries, and he set a new club record with three
touchdowns, including two key fourth quarter scores to give Dallas the lead and
the win. He ran for 150 yards and recorded a club-record with 37 combined
rushing/receiving attempts. When Dallas captured the Super Bowl XXX title with a
win over the Pittsburgh Steelers (1/28/96), Smith capped the season with two
second half touchdowns to give Dallas a 27-17 win.
1994
Smith had one of the league's best scoring seasons in 1994, accumulating an NFL
high 22 touchdowns and tying for second in scoring (132 points), and along the
way, he became the first non-kicker to lead Dallas in scoring since Bob Hayes
and Dan Reeves tied for the team lead in 1967. His 22 total touchdowns, 21
rushing touchdowns and 132 points were all Dallas single-season club-records at
the time, and his 22 total touchdowns tied the fourth highest single-season mark
in league history. He also ground out the third-highest rushing total in the
league at 1,484 yards on a league-high 368 carries. Despite touching the
football 449 times on carries and catches, Smith did not lose a fumble all year.
He also finished third in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 1,825,
accomplishing all these feats despite struggling with hamstring injuries that
kept him out of all or part of five games during the season. Smith opened the
season with a bang at Pittsburgh (9/4), recording a season-high 171 yards
rushing and one touchdown on 31 carries against a Steelers' defense that would
finish second in the NFL in total defense. In just his 65th career game, Smith
passed the 6,000-career yard mark with 143 yards against Detroit (9/19). It was
the fastest a Dallas runner had ever reached that mark (Dorsett in 73 games was
the previous mark). Smith also added a season-high seven receptions against
Detroit to lead the team. In back-to-back games at Washington (10/2) and against
Arizona (10/9), Smith notched two first-half rushing touchdowns, despite pulling
a hamstring in the first half against the Redskins that limited him to nine
carries and 22 yards against the Cardinals. Smith moved past Don Perkins (6,217
yards) and into second place on the Cowboys all-time rushing list with 106 yards
against Philadelphia (10/16) ' his fifth straight 100-yard game against the
Eagles and a club record for consecutive 100-yard games against one opponent.
When the Cowboys traveled to Cincinnati (10/30), Smith had a nine game touchdown
streak and seven game rushing touchdown streak stopped when he was held out of
the end zone, despite rushing for 92 yards. Smith established a club-record with
35 carries against the N.Y. Giants (11/7), while scoring two touchdowns and
picking up 163 yards. The next week at San Francisco (11/13), Smith moved into
second on the club's all-time carry list, passing the 1,500 career carry mark in
his 72nd career game. Smith moved past the 1,000 yard mark for the fourth
consecutive season with 85 yards and two touchdowns against Washington (11/20),
and four days later on Thanksgiving Day against Green Bay (11/24), Smith amassed
208 total yards (113-rushing, 95-receiving) on 38 carries and catches while
scoring twice. His 95 yards receiving were a season-high and included a
season-long 68-yard catch. When Smith reached the end zone twice at Philadelphia
(12/4), it gave him 19 touchdowns for the season, breaking the single-season
club-record. The following week against Cleveland (12/10), Smith became the
first back to top the 100-yard rushing barrier against the Browns in 1994 when
he picked up 112 yards and a touchdown. He also added his first receiving score
of the year, marking the sixth consecutive week he had posted two scores. Smith
picked up 74 yards and his 22nd touchdown of the season at New Orleans (12/19)
before pulling his left hamstring late in the third quarter. Smith missed the
first start of his career due to injury in the season finale at the N.Y. Giants
(12/24), but he returned to action in the Cowboys playoff win over Green Bay
(1/8/95), picking up 44 yards on seven first quarter carries (6.3 avg.) before
re-aggravating his left hamstring. Nursing that sore hamstring, Smith picked up
74 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries at San Francisco (1/15/95) in the NFC
Championship Game before pulling his right hamstring in the fourth quarter. An
All-Pro for the third straight year, that injury kept Smith from playing in his
fifth-consecutive Pro Bowl, despite being selected.
1993
The list of honors and awards for Smith from 1993 goes on and on following one
of the most outstanding performances by a running back in league history.
Recipient of the NFL MVP Award from: Associated Press, The Sporting News, Pro
Football Writers of America, Miller Lite, the ESPN 'ESPY' Awards, Pro Football
Weekly and Pro Football Digest. United Press International, Pro Football Weekly
and College & Pro Football Newsweekly named him NFL Offensive Player of the
Year. Smith also received the Bert Bell Award from the Maxwell Club as the
Player of the Year; consensus All-Pro honors; NFL Alumni Running Back of the
Year recognition and the Super Bowl XXVIII MVP award. Smith became only the
fourth player to win three straight league rushing titles and the first since
Earl Campbell turned the trick from 1978-80 (Jim Brown 1957-61 and 1963-65 and
Steve Van Buren 1947-49). Smith also led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage
with 1,900 (1,486 rushing/414 receiving), outdistancing runner-up Thurman Thomas
of Buffalo (1,702) by almost 200 yards, and with a 5.3 yards-per-carry average,
the highest average by a Dallas running back since Duane Thomas posted a 5.3
average in 1970. Second on the team with 57 receptions, Smith finished fourth in
the NFC in catches among running backs. He missed the first two regular season
games and three starts because of contract negotiations, signing his contract on
Sept. 16 and seeing limited action at Phoenix (9/19). Smith returned to the
starting line-up against Green Bay (10/3) and, in his 50th career game, became
only the fifth Dallas running back to reach the 1,000 career carry mark ' the
fastest to that point of any running back in team history. Smith recorded his
first 100-yard rushing day of the season with 104 yards on 25 carries at
Indianapolis (10/10). He established a new club-record with 237 yards rushing
(on 30 carries) at Philadelphia (10/31) to nab NFC Offensive Player of the Week
honors and post the highest rushing total in the NFL in 1993. That day in
Philadelphia, he eclipsed Dorsett's club mark of 206 yards set against the
Eagles (12/4/77) and tied Jim Brown for the sixth best single-game rushing
performance in NFL history. It was also the highest single-game rushing total in
the NFL since Walter Payton ran for 275 yards against Minnesota on Nov. 20,
1977. His 62-yard touchdown run to finish the game was the Cowboys' longest run
of the season. The next week when Aikman went down with a pulled hamstring
against the Giants (11/7), the Cowboys offense turned to Smith to carry the
load. He responded with 182 yards of total offense against Phoenix (11/14) (24
carries, 80 yards, one touchdown and four receptions for 102 yards), including a
career-long 86-yard catch from Bernie Kosar. It was his second career 100-yard
receiving day. Things didn't go as well the following week when he suffered a
bruised right quadricep at Atlanta (11/21) in the second quarter and missed the
remainder of game. He finished with a career-low one carry for one yard. Despite
the injury, he ran for 51 yards on 16 carries and added 46 yards on nine
receptions four days later against Miami (11/25) on Thanksgiving Day. In that
game, he moved past the 5,000-yard barrier in his 57th career game ' the fastest
ever by a Dallas back. Smith went on to garner the NFC Offensive Player of the
Month award for December, the third consecutive December he had won the award.
During Dallas' final five game march to the playoffs, Smith amassed 115 carries
for 688 yards (6.0 average) and two touchdowns to go along with 24 receptions
for 142 yards and a touchdown. He started the streak by recording the second
highest rushing total ever by a Cowboy at Texas Stadium with 172 yards on 24
carries against Philadelphia (12/6). For the season, Smith logged 409 yards
rushing in two games against Philadelphia to join O.J. Simpson (469 yards
rushing against New England in 1973) as the only players to record over 400
yards rushing against one opponent in the same season. Including that game
against Philadelphia, Smith would record three days with over 150 yards rushing
in the final five weeks. The second of those came against the Redskins (12/26)
when he ran for 153 yards, and the third came in one of the most memorable games
in Cowboys history when Smith carried Dallas to the NFC East title in a 16-13
overtime win at the N.Y. Giants (1/2/94). Despite separating his right shoulder
late in the second quarter ' an injury that required surgery March 1, 1994 '
Smith ran for 168 yards and caught 10 passes for another 61 yards to establish a
club record for rushing-receiving attempts in a game at 42. Smith gained 78
yards on 17 carries/catches after the injury, including 41 yards on nine
runs/receptions in Dallas' 12-play, 52-yard drive to the game winning field goal
in overtime. In the two playoff games leading up to Super Bowl XXVIII, Smith
struggled with his injury, but still managed 148 yards against Green Bay
(1/16/94) and San Francisco (1/23/94). It was in Super Bowl XXVIII against
Buffalo (1/30/94) where Smith capped his storybook season, capturing MVP honors
for leading Dallas to its second consecutive NFL title. For the second
consecutive year, he topped the 100-yard rushing mark in the Super Bowl, gaining
132 yards ' 91 yards and two touchdowns in the second half as Dallas scored 24
unanswered points. It was the 100th 100-yard rushing day of Smith's football
career (high school, college, pro). Following the season, Smith was selected to
his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl.
1992
Smith first set Dallas records with 1,713 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns
and 19 total touchdowns, while leading the league in all three categories. Smith
posted the 11th best rushing season in NFL history at the time and was the first
NFL player since Walter Payton in 1984-85 with consecutive 1,500-yard rushing
seasons. Not to limit his heroics to the ground, Smith also posted 59
receptions, tops in the NFC and third in the NFL among running backs, for 335
yards. Smith's 2,048 yards from scrimmage set a new Dallas record, led the NFC
and was second in the NFL. Smith also established a Dallas mark for rushing
attempts with 373 and rushing/receiving attempts with 432. Smith opened the
season with 140 yards on the ground in a Monday night win over the defending
Super Bowl champion Redskins (9/7), earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week
honors and becoming the first player to rush for over 100 yards against the
Redskins in three consecutive games. He had a streak of five straight games with
over 100 yards rushing at Texas Stadium snapped against Seattle (10/11). Smith
had surpassed the previous club mark of four straight 100-yard rushing
performances at home against Phoenix (9/20). After bruising his hip in the third
quarter against the Raiders (10/25), he missed two plays but returned to rush
for 79 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 152 yards and three touchdowns on
the day. His three touchdowns at the Raiders, which he would match two weeks
later at Detroit (11/8), tied for the NFC-high in 1992 and earned him NFC
Offensive Player of the Week honors. Smith started November, a month in which he
would earn NFC Offensive Player of the Month honors, facing a tough Philadelphia
defense (11/1) which was ranked first in the NFL in yards allowed going into the
game. Smith broke loose for 163 yards, becoming the first 100-yard rusher
against the Eagles in 53 games, a streak that dated back to Sept. 17, 1989.
Smith had his team-record 34-game streak of leading the team in rushing yards
end against the Lions (11/8). Against the Rams (11/15), Smith matched Dorsett's
1981 record by reaching 1,000 yards rushing in a season in 10 games, the fewest
in team history. A week later, Smith demonstrated his versatility when he hauled
in a career-high 12 passes at Phoenix (11/22), which were the second most in
team history. On Thanksgiving Day against the Giants (11/26), Smith recorded a
season-long 68-yard touchdown run and a season-long 26-yard touchdown catch.
With Denver Head Coach Dan Reeves watching from across the field, Smith tied the
single-season touchdown mark Reeves had established in 1966 by popping into the
end zone with 2:47 remaining to give the Cowboys a 31-27 come-from-behind win
over the Broncos (12/6). Smith wrapped up the regular season with 174 yards
rushing at Atlanta (12/21), a NFC-high for 1992, and 131 yards against Chicago
(12/27), earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors and claiming the league
rushing title. For his late season display, he was named NFC Offensive Player of
the Month for December, making him the first NFL player to earn the honor in
consecutive months. He strung together three 100-yard rushing games in the
playoffs (114 against the Eagles, 114 against the 49ers and 108 against
Buffalo). His three straight postseason 100-yard rushing days established a club
record and tied for the third longest postseason streak in league history. With
his performance against Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVII (1/31/93), Smith became the
first Dallas player to rush for 100 yards in a Super Bowl. After the season,
Smith earned consensus All-Pro and All-NFC honors.
1991
Smith first led the NFL in rushing in 1991 when he gained 1,563 yards, becoming
the first Cowboys player to lead the league in rushing. At 22 years and seven
months of age, he became the youngest player in league history and 28th overall
to rush for over 1,500 yards in a season, and that performance helped earn him a
starting spot in the Pro Bowl. He led the NFL with 365 carries, the third
youngest player to reach the 500 carry plateau, joining Walter Payton and Barry
Sanders as the only players to do so before their 23rd birthday. His eight
100-yard rushing games in 1991 were the second most in team history. Smith
scored on a career-long 75-yard dash, the longest run in the NFC in 1991, and
averaged a career-high 10.2 yards-per-carry in posting a 112 yard rushing game
against Washington (9/9). Slowed by a stomach virus most of the game, he was
still able to come off the bench to record a team-high eight receptions,
including his first career touchdown catch. Against Phoenix (9/22), Smith earned
NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors by putting together the fourth best
rushing day in Cowboys history with 182 yards rushing and two touchdowns,
including a 60-yard touchdown run. With his 75 and 60-yard runs, Smith became
the second player in team history to have more than one 60-yarder in the same
season (Dorsett had an 84 and 77-yard run in 1977). Smith played five games
against the top three run defenses in the league (No. 1 ' Philadelphia, No. 2 '
New Orleans and No. 3 ' Washington), but against the Redskins (11/24), Smith
rushed for 132 yards on 34 carries, his second 100-yard game against the
Redskins in 1991 and the only two 100-yard games allowed by the Super Bowl
Champions. Four days later, he gained 109 yards against Pittsburgh (11/28), and
the following week, he became the only player to gain 100 yards rushing against
the Saints (12/8) by picking up 112 yards. With three straight 100-yard rushing
games, Smith matched the second longest streak in team history. Smith's 160
yards and two touchdowns rushing against Atlanta (12/22) allowed him to surpass
Sanders and Thomas to win the league rushing title. Smith also finished second
in the NFC (third in the NFL) in yards from scrimmage, second in the NFL in
touchdowns (13) and rushing touchdowns (12). For all his late season heroics in
the Cowboys playoff drive, Smith was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for
December. He opened the playoffs in Chicago (12/29) with 105 yards against a
Bears' team that had never allowed a running back to go over the century mark in
postseason play, a record going back to 1932 and spanning 27 games.
1990
Despite missing training camp and the preseason in 1990, Smith finished fifth in
the NFC and 10th in the NFL with 937 rushing yards, tops among rookies. In
addition, his 11 rushing touchdowns led NFL rookies, placed third in the NFC and
fifth in the NFL. Smith earned his first professional start against the Giants
(9/16) after little more than a week with the club, and the following week at
Washington (9/23), he scored his first NFL touchdown. Smith's 241 carries broke
Dorsett's rookie club record of 208 carries set in 1977, and his three 100-yard
rushing games were the second most ever by a Cowboys' rookie. A vital part of
the Cowboys four-game win streak late in the season, Smith caught four passes
for a career-high 117 yards against the Rams (11/18) in game one of the streak.
Four days later, he scored on a 48-yard scamper on his way to a season-high 132
yards rushing against Washington (11/22). Facing Phoenix (12/16), Smith rushed
for 103 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to tie the club record for
rushing and total touchdowns in a game. The first rookie halfback to start for
the Cowboys since Ron Springs in the 1979 season opener, Smith was named NFL
Offensive Rookie of the Year by AP, Football News, Pro Football Weekly and Pro
Set Trading Cards and was a consensus All-Rookie selection. He also became the
first Cowboys player to participate in the Pro Bowl since Herschel Walker in
1988.
College Highlights
An All-America and three time All-SEC selection at Florida, Smith established 58
school records in three seasons, including a career rushing mark of 3,928 yards.
He surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in his seventh game, earlier than any
player in college football history. He also became the second freshman to finish
in the top 10 in the Heisman Trophy balloting (Herschel Walker was the other)
and earned Freshman of the Year honors from UPI and The Sporting News. In 1989,
he set a school single-game rushing mark with 316 yards against New Mexico on
his way to a school-record 1,599 yards rushing for the season. In three seasons,
he became the fifth leading all-time rusher in SEC history and led the Gators in
receiving two-of-the-three seasons.
Personal
Emmitt J. Smith, III was a consensus All-America running back and prep Player of
the Year by Parade Magazine and USA Today as a senior at Escambia, FL, High
School. He posted the third highest career rushing and scoring totals in
national high school history with 8,804 yards and 106 touchdowns. He also
averaged 7.8 yards-per-carry, ran for over 100 yards 45 times and recorded only
six fumbles. In 1986, he represented the nation's prep football players at the
White House as part of the 'Just Say No' anti-drug campaign. He was the Cowboys'
United Way spokesman in 1994-95. Smith has supported 100 Black Men of Pensacola,
Pensacola Family Care, Boys Clubs of Pensacola, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, The
Kidney Foundation, Oak Cliff, TX, Little League, Buckner Children's Home of
Texas and The Theater Arts for Youth. From 1992-98, the Emmitt Smith Charity
Golf Tournament was played each spring in Pensacola. He was a Miller Lite NFL
Player of the Year finalist in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995 and the 1993 winner,
donating all money received through the awards to the Sickle Cell Anemia
Foundation. One of Smith's main focuses off the field is working with and aiding
youth and children. Smith recently founded the Open Doors Foundation, which
focuses on today's youth through ' among other things ' motivational talks,
providing schools with needed equipment and supplies and providing students with
study aids. He also works with children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation,
hosting many visits with children at the club's Valley Ranch practice facility
during the season. Smith also works with the Salvation Army, American Lung
Association, the Battered and Abused Children's Foundation and B.A.D. (Boxers
Against Drugs). His annual Feed The Children holiday food drive supports over
3,000 families in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Pensacola areas. The national
spokesman for the Starter/JCPenney 'Take A Player to School Program,' Smith also
makes numerous speaking engagements at schools in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and
in Pensacola. He was also the ambassador for the NFL's F.A.C.T. trading card
program and the 1996 spokesman for the Texas War on Drugs. In May, 1994, a
celebrity 25th birthday party was held for Emmitt with proceeds from a
fundraising auction given to the 'I Have a Dream' Foundation. Emmitt has three
brothers ' Erik, Emory and Emil ' and two sisters ' Marsha and Connie. Emory, a
fullback, was a member of the Cowboys practice squad in 1997. Emmitt received
his degree in Public Recreation from the University of Florida in May, 1996. He
and wife Pat live in Addison, TX, with their daughters Rheagen and Jasmine.
|
NFL's all-time leader for yards rushing
(16,726), attempts (3,838) and combined net yards from scrimmage (21,803)