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

[noshame]

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.

I was thinking who in the heck is Phil. LOL.

 

[JayFord]

I thought this was about Phil Mafah.

Phil might break Emmitt’s record this year…it’s definitely something to watch for

 

[buybuydandavis]

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.

The difference more games could make is to *shorten* careers.

After a certain point, more snaps per season leads to fewer snaps over a career. Players just get ground down with too much punishment over a season.

 

[sunalsorises]

Frank Gore was the closest threat at one time.

He still is. He's just waiting for some team to reach out.

 

[Rayman70]

Henry has the odds against him. Injury could derail him. His running style and the wear and tear.

 

[mmohican29]

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)

I will die on this hill. I saw both backs play in their prime:

Barry was faster, more elusive, and more talented.

And: Emmitt Smith was the BETTER back.

Emmitt was more punishing, had better vision, better hands, and more will to win. Period.

I challenge anyone to watch Emmitt's highlight reel and tell me with absolute certainty: there was a better RB. Ever.

 

[Bamx]

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.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

I will die on this hill. I saw both backs play in their prime:

Barry was faster, more elusive, and more talented.

And: Emmitt Smith was the BETTER back.

Emmitt was more punishing, had better vision, better hands, and more will to win. Period.

I challenge anyone to watch Emmitt's highlight reel and tell me with absolute certainty: there was a better RB. Ever.

There were better RBs. Quote a few.

It's easy to have good vision when ur OL is blowing the defenders 5 yards backwards.

I agree with you when you said "Barry us more talented" though.

Just imagine Emmits career if he'd been drafted by the Jets, or Seahawks, or, or, the Lions.

 

[mmohican29]

There were better RBs. Quote a few.

It's easy to have good vision when ur OL is blowing the defenders 5 yards backwards.

I agree with you when you said "Barry us more talented" though.

Just imagine Emmits career if he'd been drafted by the Jets, or Seahawks, or, or, the Lions.

Lol oh yes the Great Wall argument: 2 cast offs (Tuinei, Gogan), a 10th Rd pick (Gesek) a 3rd Rd pick (E.Williams) and an undersized 2nd Rd C (Stepnoski). Larry Allen joined in '94 after the Boys went B2B and struggled a bit his rookie year.

What was Dallas record without Emmitt in the lineup?

When was Emmitt Smith less than great? His last 4 years? He still was productive late into his career.

Dude ran roughshod over everyone @ every level of football he played at. Period.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

Lol oh yes the Great Wall argument: 2 cast offs (Tuinei, Gogan), a 10th Rd pick (Gesek) a 3rd Rd pick (E.Williams) and an undersized 2nd Rd C (Stepnoski). Larry Allen joined in '94 after the Boys went B2B and struggled a bit his rookie year.

What was Dallas record without Emmitt in the lineup?

When was Emmitt Smith less than great? His last 4 years? He still was productive late into his career.

Dude ran roughshod over everyone @ every level of football he played at. Period.

I never said he wasn't great. I never said he was great...but never said he wasn't, either. He certainly had a great career...I'll give him that. Would he have had a great career if he had he been playing on Barry's team and Barry was playing in Dal? Hmmmmm... I have MY opinion on that, but will keep that to myself.

But of the very good to great RBs, if you asked football experts which of those guys enjoyed running behind the best oLine...I'm pretty sure the vast majority would say Emmitt. I mean...what are you saying....that regardless of where the guys were drafted, that during the troy/Emmitt era Dal didn't have one of the greatest oLines of all time?

Emmitt was kinda like Irvin. Or Troy himself. Were they very very good? Of course. But Irvin wasn't Rice or Moss. And Troy wasn't Brady or Montana. And Emmitt wasn't Barry or Walter or JBrown or several others. Hell, even if you teleported Prime Emmitt to the 2024 season, he would have had to take a backseat to Saquon or DH. Emmitt's superpower was longevity and durability though *and maybe wanting to earn every paycheck he possibly could until no team wanted him any longer).. Can't take that from him.

All Time Great oLine (for the era). Very very good skill players.... and certainly in most people's list of Top 20 greatest All Time at each of their respective positions. THATS REALLY GOOD!

 

[mldardy]

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.

Wow you obviously don't read well, because the person you are not close to what the person you quoted is talking about.

Furthermore your comment is about as ignorant and stupid as it gets. It's not Emmitt's fault that he wanted to continue to play football for as long as possible and not his fault that the team sucked during his final couple of seasons as a Cowboy. Jerry's ability not to field a quality team is not the fault of Emmitt or Emmitt breaking a record.

 

[ConstantReboot]

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/

Man, just think how wild it would’ve been if we had signed Derrick Henry and actually given him a real shot at breaking Emmitt Smith’s record—right here in Dallas.

With the offensive line we have now and all the talent at wide receiver, I really believe our offense could’ve been unstoppable.

But Jerry just can’t bring himself to make those bold moves when it matters most. He talks a big game, but when it comes time to actually do what it takes to win another championship, he always plays it safe -often times makes dumb moves. That’s what’s holding us back.

 

[Pass2Run]

Emmitt's record marked the point Jerry stopped caring about winning and shifted focus mostly to the nostalgia of the 90s.

Lasted for years. Up until the end of Garrett's tenure. I think that's when he finally realized nostalgia wasn't enough.

 

[ColoradoCowboy]

A few thoughts...

Put a pin in the Henry breaking the record for about 3 years. It would likely take him 4 or 5 years to get there, maintaining his current level of production. That ain't easy. Possible? sure. But not entirely likely either.

Ah, the great RB debate.
Here's how I see it.

Barry was a better runner. If I was down by 5 on my own 10 with 3 seconds left on the clock; I'd find a way to get the ball into Barry's hands. He very well COULD take any play the distance, and make the defense look like children while doing it. Or he could get dropped for a loss.

Emmitt was a better RB. He did everything well. Run, block, catch...and he was rarely caught behind the LOS. Fourth and two at the 50, down by 4, 1:52 left in the game; hand it to Emmitt. Odds are, you'll get a new set of downs to work with. Or throw it, knowing that Emmitt WILL pick up that blitzing LB.

BUT....

If I could only pick ONE back for any team at any time, no question that my pick would be Jim Brown.

My RB Mount Rushmore is: Jim, Emmitt, Barry, and Walter.
There are a LOT of other guys in the conversation, but you simply cannot say NO to any of these four.

 

[jazzcat22]

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.

Ridiculous.

 

[jazzcat22]

Emmitt's record marked the point Jerry stopped caring about winning and shifted focus mostly to the nostalgia of the 90s.

Lasted for years. Up until the end of Garrett's tenure. I think that's when he finally realized nostalgia wasn't enough.

Still ridiculous.

 

[jazzcat22]

There were better RBs. Quote a few.

It's easy to have good vision when ur OL is blowing the defenders 5 yards backwards.

I agree with you when you said "Barry us more talented" though.

Just imagine Emmits career if he'd been drafted by the Jets, or Seahawks, or, or, the Lions.

Barry had 3 all pro OL blocking for him. 2 were already there, they drafted an OL who was considered the top OL in the draft. He became the 3rd.

Dallas had a rag tag group of OL. Other than drafting Stepnoski in the 3rd round.
None was all pro, until Emmitt got there. Nate Newton will tell you that.
Also there were reasons Detroit did not have Barry in on goal line plays. Emmitt was bread and butter, almost automatic to get a TD.

Yes, Emmitt came in at a unique time and took off from there. You are right, if he went to another team, probably would have been much different. But that can be said about many players.
If Dallas would have drafted Joe Montana like Gil Brandt wanted to do. Would have he had the same career?
Only one thing for sure, SF would not have beaten Dallas from that Catch to Clark.

 

[Arkyvarminter]

Lol oh yes the Great Wall argument: 2 cast offs (Tuinei, Gogan), a 10th Rd pick (Gesek) a 3rd Rd pick (E.Williams) and an undersized 2nd Rd C (Stepnoski). Larry Allen joined in '94 after the Boys went B2B and struggled a bit his rookie year.

What was Dallas record without Emmitt in the lineup?

When was Emmitt Smith less than great? His last 4 years? He still was productive late into his career.

Dude ran roughshod over everyone @ every level of football he played at. Period.

Your like me...I think Emmitt was maybe the greatest when you factor in blocking, receiving, and running....Barry played 10 seasons, went to 10 probowls and averaged 5.0 yards per carry over all those yards he has...incredible..Nobody beats Barry pure running.

 

[Pass2Run]

Still ridiculous.

That's exactly how I felt that last few years of Emmitt's career.

Ridiculous is right. Ridiculous he was still the primary back.

At that time, Troy Hambrick was better and had more YPC.

Most fans like Emmitt too much to see how this record hurt the team and its future.

I admire players like Andre Reed who got offended when the Bills kept throwing him the ball on one yard hitches just so he could be 2nd all time in receptions.

He should have been offended. Emmitt relished in it.

 

[jazzcat22]

That's exactly how I felt that last few years of Emmitt's career.

Ridiculous is right. Ridiculous he was still the primary back.

At that time, Troy Hambrick was better and had more YPC.

Most fans like Emmitt too much to see how this record hurt the team and its future.

I admire players like Andre Reed who got offended when the Bills kept throwing him the ball on one yard hitches just so he could be 2nd all time in receptions.

He should have been offended. Emmitt relished in it.

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.