Editing Emmitt Smith (section)

===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>