Emmitt Smith's rushing record faces a rare, though still unlikely, challenger

[CalPolyTechnique]

Hmmm, which RB played with three HOF linemen (Stepnoski, Allen, and Newton) and arguably the most feared/respected OT of his era (Erik Williams)?

 

[Pass2Run]

Emmitt did not relish it. Still ridiculous take. But it is your opinion, and I, disagree.

No way was Hambrick ever better than Emmitt. YPC or not. He still did not bering what Emmitt did.
Hambrick, like his brother talked more than they played to back it up.

I mean, his production per carry was better. I know it's not a popular opinion. I just stopped liking Emmitt his last 3 years here. We needed another back and he just wasn't the same player. He stunk it up here then went to AZ to stink it up there.

My favorite play by any Cowboys player was the stick Roy Williams put on Emmitt that literally made him cry.

That's right. Diamond amongst trash.

Emmitt is still relishing in his record.

 

[mmohican29]

I mean, his production per carry was better. I know it's not a popular opinion. I just stopped liking Emmitt his last 3 years here. We needed another back and he just wasn't the same player. He stunk it up here then went to AZ to stink it up there.

My favorite play by any Cowboys player was the stick Roy Williams put on Emmitt that literally made him cry.

That's right. Diamond amongst trash.

Emmitt is still relishing in his record.

Emmitt's the GOAT.

But I'm with you on the RoyW hit stick. He had that coming yapping on his way out of Dallas. I think the tears were a combo of being pulverized like that in combination with realizing he had generated that kind of clubhouse animosity exiting.

 

[mmohican29]

Hmmm, which RB played with three HOF linemen (Stepnoski, Allen, and Newton) and arguably the most feared/respected OT of his era (Erik Williams)?

Lol.... neither Stepnoski nor Newton are in the HOF sir. And we know Williams would have been, but derailed himself. SO. Emmitt played with *1* HOF lineman.

 

[Pass2Run]

Emmitt's the GOAT.

But I'm with you on the RoyW hit stick. He had that coming yapping on his way out of Dallas. I think the tears were a combo of being pulverized like that in combination with realizing he had generated that kind of clubhouse animosity exiting.

It was a vicious hit. Roy Williams put one of the hardest hits of his career on Emmitt. I think it was just pain. Then on top of what you're saying made the pain unbearable.

It broke Emmitt's shoulder blade and at that moment, obviously, his spirit. I'm sure, as a grown man who played with injuries, he felt that deep in his soul, and deep in his pants. Lol

 

[Pass2Run]

The whole diet thing matters. If you listen closely to Zeke, he liked to party and never really stopped after getting hung up for powder and booze at Ohio State..was still partying at Mardis Gras. And I think during the season some. Apparently, likes the tequila bottle...and that's fine but it has ramifications for the longevity of pro athletes.

Some players take it seriously. Zeke was content with relying on his athleticism and the Cowboys also wore that down more than he trained to get better.

 

[ColoradoCowboy]

It was a vicious hit. Roy Williams put one of the hardest hits of his career on Emmitt. I think it was just pain. Then on top of what you're saying made the pain unbearable.

It broke Emmitt's shoulder blade and at that moment, obviously, his spirit. I'm sure, as a grown man who played with injuries, he felt that deep in his soul, and deep in his pants. Lol

Um...

Mr. Smith goes to Dallas

Smith had minus-one yard on six carries, leaving the game early in the second quarter after suffering a sprained shoulder on a big hit from a certain ascending Cowboys safety.

"Roy Williams knocked the living crap out of me; I'm going to slap him the next time I see him," Smith remembered with a laugh.

 

[Pass2Run]

Um...

Mr. Smith goes to Dallas

Smith had minus-one yard on six carries, leaving the game early in the second quarter after suffering a sprained shoulder on a big hit from a certain ascending Cowboys safety.

"Roy Williams knocked the living crap out of me; I'm going to slap him the next time I see him," Smith remembered with a laugh.

Probably before he x-rays....and, yeah, that's what I'm saying. Emmitt sucked then.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith has a
broken left shoulder blade and will be sidelined indefinitely.

The injury occurred early in the second quarter of Arizona's
24-7 loss to Dallas on Sunday in Smith's first game against the
team he played his first 13 seasons with and helped lead to three
Super Bowl victories.

LINK: https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?id=1632083

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Lol.... neither Stepnoski nor Newton are in the HOF sir. And we know Williams would have been, but derailed himself. SO. Emmitt played with *1* HOF lineman.

They were both HOFers in my heart?

 

[Risen Star]

Disregard my previous post. For some reason I thought Emmitt had just under 1600 yards but he’s over 1800 yards. No way Henry catches him.

What kind of Cowboys fan doesn't know how many yards Emmitt has?

 

[Rockport]

I still don't think anyone can catch Emmitt's rushing record. It's one of those forever unbroken records. But, Derrick Henry is a special back. I just don't think he has enough time left.

https://howboutdemcowboys.com/2025/...aces-a-rare-though-still-unlikely-challenger/

Highly unlikely but hey, you never know. Athletes these days have much better access to high level diet and physical care.

 

[KJJ]

What kind of Cowboys fan doesn't know how many yards Emmitt has?

He had too many for me to remember exactly. However, I did remember he was over 18,000 yards. not long after I posted and no one had mentioned his total

 

[diamonddelts]

If the NFL extends to 18 game seasons the record could fall. It would always have an asterisk if it happens, but the extra games could certainly make a difference.

Did they put an asterisk when Jim Brown's all-time rushing record was broken due to much longer seasons?

 

[jazzcat22]

If the NFL extends to 18 game seasons the record could fall. It would always have an asterisk if it happens, but the extra games could certainly make a difference.

Maybe in 50 years. If football is still around by then.
However, those extra 2 games from when Emmitt played, still adds wear and tear to a body.
Wheels can fall off very fast. Then again new medicines can keep them going.

Also need to consider with 18 games, there will be more of a 2 RB system to keep them fresh for the season and the playoffs.
Which will probably be at 20 teams by then.

Dallas Cowboys and the Fort Worth Bandits or whatever they will be called will play for a SB in 2040. Dallas still has AI brained Jerry as GM. AI had a programming glitch, and made good decisions.

 

[atlantacowboy]

Emmitt's record is about durability and availability as much as anything. He wasn't the biggest or most talented rb in the league even in his prime, but he had the biggest heart. He wasn't Barry Sanders who would own every record if he didn't retire in his prime. Emmitt showed up every week and wore defenses down over 4 quarters. He played his best football on the biggest stages. He was a gamer. We don't see that kind of toughness anymore. We don't see that kind of love for football anymore.

 

[KDM256]

6,933 yards to the rushing record for Henry, no way would I doubt the greatest player to ever tote the rock according to KDM256

As a fan of football, we're witnessing something special here with this guy as I've said since he's entered the league. It's just a shame that the Cowboys were too stupid to put a star on his guy's helmet.

 

[jazzcat22]

6,933 yards to the rushing record for Henry, no way would I doubt the greatest player to ever tote the rock according to KDM256

As a fan of football, we're witnessing something special here with this guy as I've said since he's entered the league. It's just a shame that the Cowboys were too stupid to put a star on his guy's helmet.

Greatest player ever?
What a stretch.

This is like a homer Longhorns fan I know saying Earl Campbell is the greatest ever.
Just like he said James Street is the best college QB ever, because he was undefeated at 19-0 supposedly.
And that Darrell Royal was a better coach than Bear Bryant. Because he was undefeated against him, playing a whopping 1 game head to head.

 

[OmerV]

If the NFL extends to 18 game seasons the record could fall. It would always have an asterisk if it happens, but the extra games could certainly make a difference.

I'm pretty confident there wouldn't be an asterisk. There was never one by the leader after the 14 game schedule was increased to 16 games. Besides, if looking at games played it's easy to look at the overall number for each player, which has to do with more than just scheduled games per year. Health and years played also factor in.