Emmitt Smith's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Emmitt Smith.

Emmitt Smith is a former American professional football running back, renowned for his 15 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. He holds the distinction of being the NFL's all-time leading rusher, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest running backs in football history.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1986: Named National High School Player of the Year

In 1986, Emmitt Smith was named the national high school player of the year by multiple publications and organizations, including USA Today, Parade Magazine, and Gatorade.

1988: Longest Rushing Play

In 1988, Emmitt Smith made his longest rushing play for 96 yards against Mississippi State.

1988: MVP in All-American Bowl

In 1988, Emmitt Smith returned to the lineup in mid-November and Florida won the All-American Bowl where he ran 55-yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and was named the game's MVP.

October 1989: Set Single Game Rushing Record

In October 1989, Emmitt Smith set a Florida record for rushing yards in a single game with 316 yards versus New Mexico.

1989: Named All-American

In 1989, Emmitt Smith was named a unanimous All-American. He then chose to forgo his senior year of college to play professionally.

1989: Named First-Team SEC and All-American

In 1989, at the conclusion of his junior season, Emmitt Smith was named a first-team SEC selection for the third year and SEC Player of the Year, was a unanimous first-team All-American, and finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy balloting.

1990: Selected by the Cowboys in the NFL Draft

In 1990, the Dallas Cowboys selected Emmitt Smith in the first round of the NFL draft, trading up to the 17th pick. He was later named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and received Pro Bowl honors.

1991: First Rushing Title

In 1991, Emmitt Smith had 1,563 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He also clinched the first of four rushing titles, after tallying 160 yards against the Atlanta Falcons in the season finale.

1992: Led the League in Rushing and Won the Super Bowl

In 1992, Emmitt Smith led the league in rushing and won the Super Bowl. This was the first time this had ever been done.

1992: Set Cowboys Record and Won Rushing Title

In 1992, Emmitt Smith set the Cowboys' single-season franchise record and won the rushing title with 1,713 yards. He also became the first player to win the league's rushing title and the Super Bowl in the same season.

1993: Won Super Bowl, MVP Award, Rushing Crown and Super Bowl MVP

In 1993, Emmitt Smith became the only running back to ever win a Super Bowl championship, the NFL Most Valuable Player award, the NFL rushing crown, and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award all in the same season.

1994: Led League in Rushing Touchdowns

In 1994, Emmitt Smith led the league with 21 rushing touchdowns, a new career-high, despite battling a hamstring pull late in the season. However, the Cowboys lost the NFC Championship Game to the San Francisco 49ers.

1995: Broke Franchise Rushing Records

In 1995, Emmitt Smith became the first player in league history to rush for 1,400 rushing yards or more in five consecutive seasons and set the NFL record with 25 rushing touchdowns. Smith also broke two of Tony Dorsett's Dallas franchise rushing records

1995: Led the League in Rushing and Won the Super Bowl

In 1995, Emmitt Smith led the league in rushing and won the Super Bowl for the third time.

1995: Record-setting season

In 1995, Emmitt Smith set the record for most games in a season with a touchdown and most games in a season with a rushing touchdown, achieving this feat in 15 games.

1996: Reached 10,000 Career Rushing Yards

In 1996, Emmitt Smith scored his 100th career rushing touchdown and surpassed 10,000 career rushing yards, becoming just the twelfth player in league history and the youngest one to reach this milestone.

1998: Became Cowboys All-Time Leading Rusher

In 1998, Emmitt Smith became the Cowboys' all-time leading rusher and the NFL's all-time rushing touchdown leader.

1999: Inducted into University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame

In 1999, Emmitt Smith was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great".

1999: Ranked on The Sporting News' list

In 1999, Emmitt Smith was ranked No. 68 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

2001: First Player with 11 Consecutive 1,000 Yard Seasons

In 2001, Emmitt Smith became the first player in NFL history with 11 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons and the first to post eleven 1,000-yard rushing seasons in a career.

October 27, 2002: Broke Career Rushing Yards Record

On October 27, 2002, Emmitt Smith broke the NFL record in career rushing yards with 18,355, breaking the previous record held by Walter Payton, against the Seattle Seahawks.

2002: Broke NFL Rushing Record

In 2002, Emmitt Smith broke the NFL rushing record previously held by Walter Payton. In the same game, Smith ran for a touchdown that gave him 150 career rushing touchdowns.

2004: Threw First Touchdown Pass

In 2004, Emmitt Smith became the oldest player in NFL history to throw his first touchdown pass, throwing a 21-yard touchdown strike on a halfback option play against the New Orleans Saints in week 4, the only passing attempt of his career.

September 19, 2005: Inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor

On September 19, 2005, during halftime of the Cowboys-Redskins game, Emmitt Smith was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor alongside teammates Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin.

2006: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

In 2006, Emmitt Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

2006: Inducted into Gator Football Ring of Honor and College Football Hall of Fame

In 2006, Emmitt Smith was inducted into the Gator Football Ring of Honor and the College Football Hall of Fame.

2006: Won Dancing with the Stars

In 2006, Emmitt Smith won the third season of Dancing with the Stars with professional dancer Cheryl Burke.

2007: Named Florida High School Football Player of the Century

In 2007, twenty years after graduating high school, Emmitt Smith was named the Florida high school football "Player of the Century" by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA).

October 2010: Inducted into the Escambia High School Sports Hall of Fame

In October 2010, Emmitt Smith was inducted into the Escambia High School Sports Hall of Fame during halftime of an EHS football game.

2010: Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

In 2010, Emmitt Smith was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

2014: Records Broken by DeMarco Murray

In 2014, DeMarco Murray rushed for 100+ yards in each of his first eight games and accumulated 1,845 rushing yards over the course of the season breaking records that Emmitt Smith had held.