More than two decades after he played his last game, Emmitt Smith still sits at the top of the NFL's all-time rushing list with 18,355 yards and 164 rushing touchdowns. Nobody has overtaken him since. Smith was the engine of the great Dallas Cowboys side of the 1990s, winning three Super Bowls, four rushing titles and the 1993 MVP award.
He was never the biggest or the fastest back on the field, but nobody was more durable, more patient or more relentless. Browse our Dallas Cowboys collection.
Emmitt Smith Fact File
| Full name | Emmitt James Smith III |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 May 1969 (age 57) |
| Place of birth | Pensacola, Florida, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Position | Running back |
| Nationality | American |
| Teams | Dallas Cowboys (1990–2002), Arizona Cardinals (2003–2004) |
| Shirt number | 22 |
| College | University of Florida |
Career History
| Years | Team | Games | Rush yards | Rush TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–1994 | Dallas Cowboys | 77 | 7,183 | 71 |
| 1995–1998 | Dallas Cowboys | 63 | 5,383 | 54 |
| 1999–2002 | Dallas Cowboys | 61 | 4,596 | 28 |
| 2003–2004 | Arizona Cardinals | 25 | 1,193 | 11 |
| Career | Total | 226 | 18,355 | 164 |
Figures are NFL regular-season rushing totals only, grouped from Pro Football Hall of Fame season data, and exclude play-off games and receiving yards.
Early Years in Pensacola and Florida
Born in Pensacola, Florida, Smith starred at Escambia High School before joining the University of Florida in 1987. He made an instant impression, rushing for 224 yards against Alabama in his first start and being named SEC and national Freshman of the Year.
By 1989 he was a unanimous All-American and SEC Player of the Year, leaving Gainesville with 58 school records to his name.
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Breakthrough with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas traded up to take him 17th overall in the 1990 NFL Draft, and he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 1991 he won his first rushing title, the first of four.
His durability and patience became the foundation of a Cowboys side built to win titles.
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Super Bowls and the Record-Breaking Run
Dallas won Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII and XXX in four seasons. The 1993 campaign was his masterpiece: he led the league in rushing, was named NFL MVP and then Super Bowl XXVIII MVP, a combination no other running back has managed in one season. Two years later he ran for 1,773 yards and 25 touchdowns.
From 1991 to 2001 he put together 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, and on 27 October 2002, against the Seattle Seahawks, he passed Walter Payton to become the NFL's all-time leading rusher.
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Arizona, Retirement and Legacy
After 13 seasons in Dallas he spent two years with the Arizona Cardinals, rushing for 937 yards and nine touchdowns in 2004 before retiring.
He joined the Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2005 and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010, his first year of eligibility. He was later named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team.
Honours
Team
- Super Bowl champion: XXVII, XXVIII, XXX
Individual
- NFL Most Valuable Player (1993)
- Super Bowl XXVIII MVP
- Offensive Rookie of the Year (1990)
- Four NFL rushing titles (1991, 1992, 1993, 1995)
- Eight Pro Bowl selections
- Four-time first-team All-Pro (1992–1995)
Recognition
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2010)
- College Football Hall of Fame (2006)
- Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor (2005)
- NFL 100 All-Time Team
Away From the Game
Smith showed off his footwork in a different arena in 2006, winning the third series of Dancing with the Stars with partner Cheryl Burke. With his wife Pat he runs Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, which supports children and families in the Dallas area, and he has built a career in business since retiring.
FAQs
How old is Emmitt Smith?
Emmitt Smith was born on 15 May 1969, so he is 57 years old as of October 2026.
Where was Emmitt Smith born?
He was born in Pensacola, Florida, where he played high school football at Escambia.
How tall is Emmitt Smith?
He is listed at 5 ft 9 in (175 cm).
What teams did Emmitt Smith play for?
He played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1990 to 2002 and the Arizona Cardinals in 2003 and 2004.
How many rushing yards did Emmitt Smith have?
He finished with 18,355 regular-season rushing yards and 164 rushing touchdowns, both NFL records.
When did Emmitt Smith break Walter Payton's record?
He became the NFL's all-time leading rusher on 27 October 2002 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Shop the Emmitt Smith Collection
If the Cowboys' 1990s glory years are your favourite era, wear your love for number 22 with designs made for true fans.
Explore more in our American Football collection and Dallas Cowboys collection, or put your own name on the back with our custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Walter Payton Career Story and Barry Sanders Career Story.
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