Editing Emmitt Smith (section)

==Professional career==

===Dallas Cowboys (1990–2002)===

In the [[1990 NFL draft]], the [[Dallas Cowboys]] considered drafting [[linebacker]] [[James Francis (American football)|James Francis]] with their first round selection, but after he was taken by the [[Cincinnati Bengals]], the Cowboys focused on improving their running game when Smith started dropping, because despite his collegiate success, some NFL teams still felt that Smith was too small and slow for the pro game.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2005/02/04/super-notes-how-emmitt-became-cowboy | title=How Emmitt Became A Cowboy | access-date=March 12, 2016 | archive-date=August 8, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808173214/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2005/02/04/super-notes-how-emmitt-became-cowboy | url-status=dead }}</ref> The Cowboys traded up with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] moving from the 21st to the 17th pick, in exchange for a third round draft choice (#81-[[Craig Veasey]]), to select Smith in the first round.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19900423&id=GUZSAAAAIBAJ&pg=4567,4842397&hl=es | title=Cowboys add to skill positions | access-date=March 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1990/draft.htm |access-date=May 24, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Even though he missed all of the preseason after having the longest holdout by a rookie in franchise history,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19900905&id=Iw4wAAAAIBAJ&pg=1718,2070698&hl=es | title=Emmitt Ends Holdout, Signs With Cowboys | access-date=March 12, 2016}}</ref> he was able to start 15 games and rush for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns, while being named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and receiving [[Pro Bowl]] honors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 NFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1990/probowl.htm |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Pro Football Hall of Fame (38093566614).jpg|thumb|Smith's #22 Cowboys jersey exhibited at the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]]]
In 1991, he 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys – December 22nd, 1991 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199112220dal.htm |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:The Triplets (cropped).jpg|thumb|The trio (pictured) of [[Troy Aikman]], Emmitt Smith, and [[Michael Irvin]] nicknamed "The Triplets" won three Super Bowls and is considered one of the greatest in NFL history.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2016 |title=Moment 24: The Triplets Enter The Ring Of Honor - CBS Texas |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/moment-24/ |access-date=September 25, 2023 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>]]
In 1992, he 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Super Bowl 2024: Christian McCaffrey can break rushing title curse and help change way RBs are valued |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/super-bowl-2024-christian-mccaffrey-can-break-rushing-title-curse-and-help-change-way-rbs-are-valued |website=[[CBS Sports]] |access-date=6 June 2024 |language=en |date=9 February 2024}}</ref>

In 1993, he missed all of training camp and the first 2 regular season games. The Cowboys lost both contests with rookie [[Derrick Lassic]] running in his place. With the season in jeopardy the Cowboys relented and reached an agreement, making Smith the highest paid running back in the league.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19930917&id=xIJeAAAAIBAJ&pg=1493,5484764&hl=es | title=Smith Gets His Cash, Rejoins The Cowboys | access-date=March 12, 2016}}</ref> Smith had 1,486 rushing yards, 9 touchdowns, and helped the Cowboys become the first team to win a [[Super Bowl]] after starting the season 0–2. He also received the league MVP and the Super Bowl XXVIII MVP award. On October 31, his 237 rushing yards against the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] set the single-season franchise record. His career signature game came in the season finale against the [[New York Giants]], with the Cowboys desperately trying to clinch the [[NFC East]] title and a first-round bye in the playoffs, Smith suffered a first-degree separation in his right shoulder during the first half, but still finished with 229 total yards and played a key role in a 16–13 overtime win.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants – January 2nd, 1994 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199401020nyg.htm |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

The 1994 season saw Smith led the league with 21 rushing touchdowns, a new career-high despite battling a hamstring pull late in the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emmitt Smith 1994 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitEm00/gamelog/1994/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> However, the Cowboys lost the NFC Championship Game to the San Francisco 49ers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship – Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers – January 15th, 1995 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199501150sfo.htm |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In 1995, 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.<ref name="Smith ROH">{{cite web |title=#22 Emmitt Smith - Running Back 1990-2002 |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/roh-emmitt-smith |website=Dallas Cowboys |access-date=6 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NFL Rushing Touchdowns Single-Season Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_td_single_season.htm |website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |access-date=6 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Smith, [[Adrian Peterson]], and [[LaDainian Tomlinson]] are the only players with seven straight ten-touchdown seasons to start their careers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Swartz |first1=Cody |title=Top 10 Greatest Running Backs in NFL History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/98657-top-10-greatest-running-backs-in-nfl-history |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |access-date=6 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref> He also broke two of [[Tony Dorsett]]'s Dallas franchise rushing records, the first for most consecutive initial games of a season with 100+ rushing yards (Smith's four to Dorsett's three) and the second for single-season rushing yards (1,773 to Dorsett's 1,646). Both records would hold for 19 years until 2014, when [[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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Corbett |first1=Jim |title=DeMarco Murray breaks Emmitt Smith's single-season Cowboys rushing mark |url=https://usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/12/28/demarco-murray-dallas-rushing-record-emmitt-smith/20968891/ |website=[[USA Today]] |access-date=6 June 2024}}</ref>

In 1996, he 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-29 |title=All-Time Gators in the NFL: Emmitt Smith (1996) |url=https://gatorswire.usatoday.com/gallery/all-time-gators-in-the-nfl-emmitt-smith-1996/ |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=Gators Wire |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1998, he became the Cowboys' all-time leading rusher (passing Dorsett) and the NFL's all-time rushing touchdown leader (surpassing [[Marcus Allen]]). The next year, he became the NFL's all-time leader in career postseason rushing yards (1,586) and postseason rushing touchdowns (19).<ref name="Smith ROH" />

With 1,021 rushing yards in 2001,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emmitt Smith 2001 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitEm00/gamelog/2001/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Smith ROH" />

In 2002, he reached the goal he set as a rookie, finishing the season with 17,162 career yards and breaking the NFL rushing record previously held by [[Walter Payton]] against the [[2002 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]. In the same game against the Seahawks, Smith ran for a touchdown that gave him 150 career rushing touchdowns. He finished the 2002 season with 254 carries for 975 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emmitt Smith 2002 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitEm00/gamelog/2002/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> After the season, the Cowboys hired head coach [[Bill Parcells]] who wanted to go with younger running backs and released Smith on February 26, 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 27, 2003 |title=Cowboys Release A Football Legend |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cowboys-release-a-football-legend/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=CBS News|agency=Associated Press |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 27, 2003|agency=Associated Press |title=Dallas run is over: Cowboys cut Emmitt |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/2003/0227/1515406.html |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

===Arizona Cardinals (2003–2004)===

On March 26, 2003, Smith signed a two-year contract as a [[free agent]] with the [[Arizona Cardinals]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=March 26, 2003 |title=Cardinals sign Emmitt Smith to 2-year deal |url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/news/cardinals-sign-emmitt-smith-to-2-year-deal/article_3b1f1018-b8bd-5de4-baa0-4e6eb49fb06c.html |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=East Valley Tribune |language=en}}</ref> who were not only looking for Smith to improve their team, but also helped them promote it with their local fan base. Responding to questions about what he could do as a 34-year old running back, he said "I think I'm a 1,300-yard back, and I will be out to prove that." Head Coach [[Dave McGinnis]] announced that Smith would start for the Cardinals.<ref>Goldberg, Dave. [http://newsok.com/article/1921804 "Emmitt Smith signs with Cardinals."] [[The Oklahoman]], March 27, 2003. Retrieved March 12, 2016.</ref> On October 5, in a highly anticipated game, he returned to Texas Stadium to play against the [[2003 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]], but suffered a broken left shoulder blade after [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]] [[Roy Williams (safety)|Roy Williams]] hit him in the second quarter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 6, 2003 |title=Emmitt's left shoulder blade broken |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/id/1632083 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> The Cardinals lost 24–7, and Smith's 6 carries for minus-1 yards marked the first time in his career he rushed for negative yardage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys – October 5th, 2003 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200310050dal.htm |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The injury forced him to miss six games, and he eventually finished the season with 90 carries for 256 rushing yards and averaged just 2.8 yards per carry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emmitt Smith 2003 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitEm00/gamelog/2003/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In 2004, new head coach [[Dennis Green]] was hired and named Smith as the team's starter at running back.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Reggie |date=January 8, 2004 |title=Arizona hires Dennis Green as its new head coach |url=https://www.wltx.com/article/sports/arizona-hires-dennis-green-as-its-new-head-coach/101-384242371 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=WLTX |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2004 |title=Smith named starter |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2004/06/18/smith-named-starter/28811336007/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> He posted 937 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emmitt Smith 2004 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitEm00/gamelog/2004/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He became the oldest player in NFL history ever to throw his first touchdown pass, throwing a 21-yard touchdown strike on a [[halfback option play]] against the [[2004 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] in Week 4, the only passing attempt of his career.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals – October 3rd, 2004 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200410030crd.htm |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2004 |title=Smith provides a little extra, throws TD pass |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/smith-provides-a-little-extra-throws-td-pass-1648677.php |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=Chron.com}}</ref>

Smith had 1,193 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, and averaged 3.2 yards per carry, and also had 212 receiving yards, no receiving touchdowns, and averaged 7.3 yards per reception during his two-year stint in Arizona.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emmitt Smith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitEm00.htm |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Three days before [[Super Bowl XXXIX]] on February 3, 2005, Smith announced his retirement from the NFL.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-02-03 |title=Emotional Emmitt bids farewell |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1983306 |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> He was not re-signed by the Cardinals and signed a one-day contract for one dollar with the Dallas Cowboys, after which he immediately retired with the team he had played with for most of his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netglimse.com/celebs/pages/emmitt_smith/index.shtml |title=Emmitt Smith – Biography |work=Netglimse.com |access-date=November 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119095930/http://netglimse.com/celebs/pages/emmitt_smith/index.shtml |archive-date=January 19, 2009 }}</ref>

===NFL records===
Smith currently holds the NFL record in career rushing yards with 18,355, breaking the previous record held by [[Walter Payton]], on October 27, 2002, against the Seattle Seahawks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2002 |title=Smith gets record; Seahawks get win|agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/221027006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019114304/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/221027006 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Jean-Jacques |date=October 26, 2022 |title=Flashback: The day Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith claimed the NFL's most hallowed record |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2022/10/26/flashback-the-day-cowboys-rb-emmitt-smith-claimed-the-nfls-most-hallowed-record/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Jason |date=October 27, 2017 |title=FLASHBACK: Emmitt Smith grateful to God after breaking NFL's rushing record |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/football/2017/10/27/flashback-emmitt-smith-grateful-god-breaking-nfls-rushing-record/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=Sports Spectrum |language=en-US}}</ref> He leads all running backs with 164 career rushing touchdowns,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Suter |first=Rick |date=April 21, 2023 |title=Which NFL running backs have the most rushing touchdowns of all time? |url=https://thelistwire.usatoday.com/lists/rushing-touchdown-leaders-in-nfl-history/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=List Wire |language=en-US}}</ref> and his 175 total touchdowns ranks him second only to [[Jerry Rice]]'s 208. The total of his rushing yards, receiving yards (3,224), and fumble return yards (−15) gives him a total of 21,564 yards from the line of scrimmage, making him one of only four players in NFL history to eclipse the 21,000 combined-yards mark. (The others are [[Jerry Rice]], [[Brian Mitchell (running back)|Brian Mitchell]], and [[Walter Payton]]).

He is the NFL's all-time leader in rushing attempts with 4,409, the only player to post three seasons with 19 or more touchdowns, and the record-holder for most games in a season with a touchdown and most games in a season with a rushing touchdown (15), set in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL Rushing Attempts Career Leaders (since 1946) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_att_career.htm |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Emmit Smith Rushing Banner.JPG|thumb|right|280px|Fan banner honoring the NFL's all-time leading rusher banner at [[Texas Stadium]].]]

Smith also accumulated several NFL postseason records, including rushing touchdowns (19), consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (9), and 100-yard rushing games (7). His 1,586 yards rushing is also top on the NFL postseason chart, and he shares the total playoff touchdown mark of 21 with [[Thurman Thomas]]. With the Cowboys, Smith won three Super Bowl rings and rushed for over 100 yards in two of those games, [[Super Bowl XXVII]] (108 yards and a touchdown, and six receptions for 27 yards), and [[Super Bowl XXVIII]] (132 yards and two touchdowns, and four receptions for 26 yards). Smith received the [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award|Super Bowl MVP]] award for Super Bowl XXVIII, becoming the only Cowboys running back ever to win the award.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 12, 2023 |title=Super Bowl MVPs: A Complete List from Super Bowl I to LVII |url=https://athlonsports.com/nfl/super-bowl-mvps-complete-list |access-date=August 9, 2023 |newspaper=Athlonsports.com &#124; Expert Predictions, Picks, and Previews |language=en}}</ref> He also scored two touchdowns in [[Super Bowl XXX]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=George |first=Thomas |date=January 29, 1996 |title=SUPER BOWL XXX: The Cowboy Way Is That Championship Season;Brown Plays Starring Role To Thwart Steelers' Hopes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/29/sports/super-bowl-xxx-cowboy-way-that-championship-season-brown-plays-starring-role.html |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

Smith is one of only five NFL players who have amassed over 10,000 career-rushing yards and 400 career receptions. Smith and Jerry Rice are the only two non-kickers in NFL history to score 1,000 points in a career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhatta |first=Rakshya |date=April 20, 2023 |title=All Time Scoring Leaders and Longest NFL Career – Non-Kickers |url=https://thefootballusa.com/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=The Football USA |language=en}}</ref>

===Playing style===
As a runner, Smith was consistently effective, though not dazzling in style. "(Smith) darted, slithered and followed his blockers, and squeezed yard after yard out of plays that didn't have any yards in them. He didn't look especially fast or powerful or blindingly deceptive, yet he couldn't be stopped."<ref name="cnn2" /> Smith was noted for being a very durable back with excellent vision, tremendous leg strength, and great balance, and was known as one of the best second-effort runners ever.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.sportingnews.com/nfl/100/68.html |title=TSN Presents – Football's 100 Greatest Players |publisher=Archive.sportingnews.com |access-date=December 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117144258/http://archive.sportingnews.com/nfl/100/68.html |archive-date=January 17, 2009 }}</ref> Smith was also a reliable receiver and an excellent blocker in pass protection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuharsky |first=Paul |date=November 20, 2008 |title=Johnson, Slaton proving capable in pass protection – AFC South |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/2515/johnson-slaton-proving-capable-in-pass-protection |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021134722/https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/2515/johnson-slaton-proving-capable-in-pass-protection |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |access-date=December 26, 2008 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

During his career, he was often compared to [[Detroit Lions]] Hall of Fame running back [[Barry Sanders]], as both men were extremely successful for their respective teams and combined for eight rushing titles during the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL Rushing Yards Year-by-Year Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rush_yds_year_by_year.htm |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Some give Smith the edge for his consistent "north-south" style that took full advantage of Dallas' talented [[offensive line]], while some think Sanders' spectacular running style with sudden changes of direction made him a better back.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n29_v221/ai_19625066/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711063255/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n29_v221/ai_19625066/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |title=Running debate: Barry or Emmitt? {{pipe}} Sporting News, The {{pipe}} Find Articles at BNET |publisher=Findarticles.com |access-date=December 26, 2008 |first=Tim |last=Keown |year=1997 }}</ref> Observers agree, though, that both Smith and Sanders were among the best running backs in league history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandt |first=Gil |title=Gil Brandt's 25 greatest NFL running backs of all time |url=http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3000000815786/gil-brandt's-25-greatest-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time |access-date=December 3, 2018 |website=NFL.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=List Ranker – Rank Em: NFLs Greatest Running Backs – ESPN |url=http://www.espn.com/sportsnation/rank/_/listId/1775/versionId/1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203104048/http://www.espn.com/sportsnation/rank/_/listId/1775/versionId/1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 3, 2018 |website=ESPN |access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McVey |first=Rob |date=March 1, 2021 |title=25 Greatest Running Backs in NFL History |url=https://athlonsports.com/nfl/25-greatest-running-backs-nfl-history#1 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |newspaper=Athlonsports.com &#124; Expert Predictions, Picks, and Previews |language=en}}</ref>

Although Smith is the only player to tell [[John Madden]] that ''[[Madden NFL]]'' rated his skills too high,<ref name="snider20080806">{{cite news | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-08-05-madden-game-main_N.htm | title=As John Madden would say, 'Boom!' His NFL game turns 20 | work=USA Today | date=August 6, 2008 | access-date=January 25, 2015 | author=Snider, Mike}}</ref> he was ranked No. 68 on ''[[The Sporting News]]''' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players in 1999,<ref>{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051105085403/http://archive.sportingnews.com/nfl/100/list-complete.html | archive-date=November 5, 2005 | url=http://archive.sportingnews.com/nfl/100/list-complete.html | title=TSN Presents – Football's 100 Greatest Players |work=The Sporting News |date=1999 |access-date=December 26, 2008}}</ref> three years before becoming the game's all-time rushing yards leader.