Emmitt Smith - The Most Underrated All-Time Great RB

Emmitt Smith - The Most Underrated Great RB

5/15/18

It's mind-blowing to me how a running back of Emmitt Smith's caliber could be so underrated. It's impossible to have one of the greatest records in all of sports and all of the other accomplishments he piled up and still be underrated, but that 's exactly what he is. In my opinion, Emmitt is undoubtedly a top 3 all-time RB, and a case can be made for him as the greatest of all-time.

What makes Emmitt underrated is that most "experts" have a hard time putting him in their top 3 and possibly top 5 all-time running backs list. So many people have a hard time acknowledging that he was a very special RB. He made it look easy, and so many people took it for granted.

Emmitt Smith was everything you want in a running back. He was the epitome of a complete RB. He was tough as nails, a warrior, a ferocious blocker, a lethal receiver out of the backfield, and if he had an open lane, most likely he would be adding another football to the collection in his storage room. Emmitt was also the Cowboys' best 3rd down back, best goal line back, and best pass protector.....in the good and bad years. I'll just leave his resume right here for you to look at and tell me why he shouldn't be mentioned among the best of the best.


Career Highlights And Awards
-NFL All-Time Leading Rusher
-NFL All-Time Leading Postseason Rusher
-Monday Night Football All-Time Leading Rusher
-Dallas Cowboys Ring Of Honor (2005)
-Pro Football Hall Of Fame (2010)
-NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
-8x Pro Bowl Selection (1990-95, 1998, 1999)
-4x First Team ALl-Pro (1992-95)
-Second Team All-Pro (1991)
-3x Super Bowl Champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
-Super Bowl XXVIII MVP
-1990 NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year
-1993 NFL MVP
-1993 PFWA NFL MVP
-1993 TSN NFL MVP
-1993 Miller Lite Player Of The Year
-1994 TSN Sportsman Of The Year
-2x NEA NFL MVP (1991, 1992)
-1993 Bert Bell Award
-5x Galloping Gobbler Award
-3x First Team All-SEC (1987-89)
-1989 SEC Player Of The Year
-1989 First Team All-American
-1987 SEC Freshman Of The Year
-Gator Football Ring Of Honor
-College Football Hall Of Fame (2006)
-Florida High School All-Century Team
-Florida High School Athletic Association Player Of The Century
-1986 USA Today High School Player Of The Year
-1986 Parade Magazine High School Player Of The Year


NFL Records
-Most rushing yards in a career (18,355)
-Most rushing touchdowns in a career (164)
-Most rushing attempts in a career (4,409)
-Most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (11)
-Most 1,000-yard seasons in a career (11)
-Most 100-yard games in a career (78)
-Most games in a season with a touchdown (15 in 1995)
-Most games in a season with a rushing touchdown (15 in 1995)
-Most rushing yards after turning 30 years old (5,789)
-Most playoff rushing yards in a career (1,586)
-Most playoff rushing touchdowns in a career (19)
-Most playoff total touchdowns in a career (21 - tied with Thurman Thomas)
-Most consecutive playoff games with a rushing touchdown (9)
-Most 100-yard playoff games (7 - tied with Terrell Davis)


Accomplishments
-Only running back in football history to be his state's all-time leading rusher in high school, school's all-time leading rusher in college, and the NFL's all-time leading rusher

-Only running back in NFL history to win a rushing title, MVP, Super Bowl, and Super Bowl MVP in the same season

-Only running back (since the merger) to lead the NFL in carries, rushing yards, all-purpose yards, rushing touchdowns, and total touchdowns in the same season

-First running back to win a rushing title and Super Bowl in the same season

-First running back to rush for 1,400+ yards in 5 straight seasons 

-One of 2 non-kickers in NFL history to score over 1,000 points in a career (Jerry Rice)

-One of 5 players with 10,000 rushing yards and 400 receptions in a career

-One of 3 running backs to start their careers with 7 straight 10-touchdown seasons (Jim Brown, LaDanian Tomlinson)