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

[KJJ]

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.

 

[KJJ]

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.

Let me try it again. Emmitt had over 18,000 yards. So no way Henry breaks his record.

 

[Tabascocat]

Emmitt’s record is safe for a lloooonnngggg while

 

[VaqueroTD]

He’s closer than most but I still consider Emmitt’s record one of those unbreakable records. Not only do you need a body that can withstand the punishment for that long, but you need some luck with your offensive line starters, and most teams don’t even believe in workhorse backs anymore.

 

[TwentyOne]

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/

I dont think he will be able to. But i'd love to see him though. At least come near and therefor make it exciting.

But i doubt any back these days will have a chance. The game is just too focused on passing and scoring points. The grind by running the ball was made for the 70s and 80s.

Last back that had a chance and would have taken it without competition was Barry. Sad he called it quits. But also hats up for a man who has his principles. And follows them even if it means to sacrifice valueable things.

 

[JoeKing]

This is a non-story. No one is catching Emmitt Smith's rushing record. EVER!

 

[Pass2Run]

Emmitt Smith's record was just as much a team achievement and Derrick Henry has nothing near the quality team that Emmitt ran with.

Absolutely.

Not only that, Emmitt's record was a team sacrifice. Jerry trades team and wins for Emmitt's silly record.

Those were my worst times as a fan. I'll always despise Emmitt.

 

[Creeper]

If Henry plays every game for the next 4 years (68 games) and averages 102 yards per game, he will break Emmitt Smith's record. The problem is, he has only average over 100 yards per game 3 times in his career.

Emmitt played 15 years, which is remarkable for a RB in the NFL. But if there is a RB that can do that now, it is Henry. The question for me is can Henry maintain his speed and avoid injury over the next 4 years?

One thing to consider, Henry has missed only 10 games in his career and 8 of those came in 1 season. In the last 3 years he hasn't missed a game due to injury. But the problem is still getting the necessary yards per game. In the last 3 years Henry has averaged about 92 yards per game, 10 yards less than he needs over the next 4 years.

On the other hand, Henry averaged 113 yards per game for the Ravens last season. With the Ravens,, who like to run the football and also have a real running threat at QB, maybe Henry can continue to gain a lot of yards up until age 35. If he has another 1900 yard season in 2025, I think it will show he can get to Emmitt's record.

 

[blueblood70]

If Henry plays every game for the next 4 years (68 games) and averages 102 yards per game, he will break Emmitt Smith's record. The problem is, he has only average over 100 yards per game 3 times in his career.

Emmitt played 15 years, which is remarkable for a RB in the NFL. But if there is a RB that can do that now, it is Henry. The question for me is can Henry maintain his speed and avoid injury over the next 4 years?

One thing to consider, Henry has missed only 10 games in his career and 8 of those came in 1 season. In the last 3 years he hasn't missed a game due to injury. But the problem is still getting the necessary yards per game. In the last 3 years Henry has averaged about 92 yards per game, 10 yards less than he needs over the next 4 years.

On the other hand, Henry averaged 113 yards per game for the Ravens last season. With the Ravens,, who like to run the football and also have a real running threat at QB, maybe Henry can continue to gain a lot of yards up until age 35. If he has another 1900 yard season in 2025, I think it will show he can get to Emmitt's record.

Well, that's being a little overzealous he's not averaging 102 yards a game, so you might want to stretch that out to six years, trying to have 60 to 80 yards a game there's no way in hell he averages 102 yards a game, likely NOT even this year,

but we'll see, I mean you're saying he's projecting to have almost 1750 yards this year.. .

I do agree that if anyone's going to do it Henry can,

he might be able to play another 3 to 5 years maybe that's his goal maybe all this work he's doing is because he wants Emmett Smith record but he's not going to say that because he doesn't want to jinx himself or put pressure on him but he is a type of player the way he keeps his body that it's possible but it's still a long shot...

 

[blueblood70]

Absolutely.

Not only that, Emmitt's record was a team sacrifice. Jerry trades team and wins for Emmitt's silly record.

Those were my worst times as a fan. I'll always despise Emmitt.

First of all that's not what he meant and whatever you said doesn't make any sense to me I read it a few times it's almost comical II don't get what you're trying to say are you saying that his whole career was wasted because we built the team around the best all around running back in the NFL or that he got a contract right at the end of his career and they kept him around longer than he should I mean I don't get it what you said the way it said verbatim makes no sense...

That member you quoted that's not what he meant he meant it was a team accomplishment and that it wasn't only in Emmett Smith running back accomplishment that's Why it's silly that we blame quarterbacks for team records good or bad everybody should not focus on one name it's never been about one name it's a team game and when those games are won in the playoffs and you go on runs it is a team accomplishment that's what he meant nothing to do with really what you're trying to insinuate that Jerry held on too long to get him the record and that they he didn't care about keeping the players and the roster. built to win

There might be some truth to that but this was an aging team about the fall apart anyway and it was coming from an era in which everything was different with free agency and players were very loyal and they stayed forever on one team but now it's way different I mean how do you get some of these big time players leave their teams it's almost like college now with the portal it's insane you can't recreate what they did he was not going to recreate it and even if Jimmy Johnson stayed he was probably retiring around 1998 regardless because of this everybody on the team was hurt aging and it wasn't going to be rebuilt overnight it was almost impossible to rebuild that..

Ask Bill Belichick why he's coaching in North Carolina now once Tom Brady left once that whole era died he moved on he was not going to be able to recreate it they still can't find a quarterback and it's not just about the quarterback but you got to have the quarterback first unless you're the Rams and got lucky and built the team and all you needed was a quarterback and got Matthew Stafford to help out as the final piece but that doesn't typically happen very often..

 

[noshame]

Nobody could focus on the run against Emmitt, because the minute they did it was Troy. Michael and Jay to the rescue.
With a touch of K mart or Alvin

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Remember when folks thought Zeke > than Henry?

 

[DandyDon52]

He'd have to average 1,733 yards over 4 seasons. Or 1,386 yards over 5 seasons. I don't see it.

He could feasibly do it in 6 seasons.
Henry has stayed in good shape his whole career, and that means he can last longer than
most RB's.
I wonder if he even wants to have that record? Emmitt wanted it, and kept playing with Arizona, just
to get enough yards .

I dont really care, if it happens, it happens, if not so be it.

 

[DandyDon52]

Nobody could focus on the run against Emmitt, because the minute they did it was Troy. Michael and Jay to the rescue.
With a touch of K mart or Alvin

Phil did in 92, I am watching game 2 now, they said dallas was 1-6 against phil, and emmitt had never got 100 yds or more against Phil. Phil won the 1st game in 92 like 34-10.
After this game 2 I will watch the playoff game with phil and SF, Dallas had big edge as they were top seed, only had to play twice then SB. And both games in Tx stadium.

 

[big dog cowboy]

 

[shabazz]

Remember when folks thought Zeke > than Henry?

Zeke really was hell on wheels for 4 years. He kept around a 4.6 average AND his receiving and pass blocking set him above Henry.....but after 4 years he was shot and Henry just keeps defying father time.

In 2018 Zeke had 77 receptions and over 300 carries.....not many backs have done that in a single season.

 

[The Ominous]

Blue gonna get it haha....but this is one record that will never be broken. 22 is a true GOAT.

 

[Flamma]

Phil did in 92, I am watching game 2 now, they said dallas was 1-6 against phil, and emmitt had never got 100 yds or more against Phil. Phil won the 1st game in 92 like 34-10.
After this game 2 I will watch the playoff game with phil and SF, Dallas had big edge as they were top seed, only had to play twice then SB. And both games in Tx stadium.

Monday night, and I'm watching this game with a friend at home. Things aren't going well. My girlfriend comes over unannounced. On her way, a bunch of deer run into her car. She didn't hit them, multiple deer hit her drivers side. She said she saw a deer's face slide down her window.

She now wants to, no, insists on going to check on the animal. Which is a good 10 minutes away, and it's the 3rd quarter. I'm already in a bad mood. I lived in a rural area at the time. She lived in a city. I can't help it, and no one else will either. A cop will just come and put it down.

I drive out there, not a deer in sight. Just her broken mirror and some other debris. The night didn't get any better.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

People just don't play that way any more... just handing off over and over and over.

Certainly not in the Walter Payton or Barry Sanders skill category, but the record meant something to him and he stayed durable enough so he just kept hammering away year after year to get it, and he earned it.

Barry just didn't care. (Sacrificed records to be able to walk when he was 70)

Exactly. Offenses no longer operate like that. I think there were 18 teams that had a 1000 yard rusher in 1995; the last year the Cowboys won it all. Just shows how much the game has changed.

 

[Flamma]

He could feasibly do it in 6 seasons.
Henry has stayed in good shape his whole career, and that means he can last longer than
most RB's.
I wonder if he even wants to have that record? Emmitt wanted it, and kept playing with Arizona, just
to get enough yards .

I dont really care, if it happens, it happens, if not so be it.

He could. That would put him at roughly the same amount of years total as Emmitt. He would have to average over 1100 yards. He would have to have some pretty good seasons early on.

Here is where I think he'll have a problem. He has over 2300 carries in 9 years. Emmitt has over 4400. In Henry's last 6 years, he would almost have to duplicate the number of carries he had in his first 9 years. That's not going to happen. The other option is to get more yards per carry.