The Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League have been nicknamed “America’s Team”. Their consistent high performance, over a span of more than 30 years, has made the team a fan favorite not only in the state of Texas and the United States, but also globally. Along with their great success on the field, the Dallas Cowboys have just as much success off the field and are considered one of the most valuable sports teams in North America. It’s the game on the field, and the people who have contributed to that game, that are at the heart of the Cowboys’ great success.
Countless players have gifted the unique star and blue and white Dallas Cowboys jerseys and left their mark on the team, the NFL, the state and their fans near and far. Throughout its years, the team has witnessed a number of stars whose skills and accomplishments have created Dallas Cowboys legends and history, legends such as Emmitt Smith, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. Thanks to these players and many others over the years, the Dallas Cowboys are one of the most successful teams in NFL history and hold numerous league records. The Cowboys hold the league record for most consecutive winning seasons, 20 total, from 1966 to 1985, as well as the record for most seasons with at least 10 wins (24). In addition, they have been Super Bowl champions five times, a record they share with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers. The list of team records, plus Dallas Cowboys history, goes on and on.
The Dallas Cowboys are an exceptional team with a formidable past. The team was particularly successful during the 30-year span from 1966 to 1996, during which time they made the playoffs 24 times, played in 14 NFC championship games, and took the field in 8 Super Bowls, becoming champions of the NFC. Super Bowl five times. In 1990, the Cowboys drafted a running back, 17th overall, with a first-round pick. That running back was Emmitt Smith from the University of Florida, who would turn out to be another All-Star for the Dallas Cowboys.
Emmitt (with two T) Smith was actually born Emmit (one T) Smith. However, at some point in his academic career he received a paper with Emmitt written with two Ts. He liked the new spelling and it stuck—from that day on he was known as Emmitt Smith. During his fifteen-year NFL career (1990-2002 with the Dallas Cowboys), Smith amassed a multitude of records. Stats aside, he stands out as a player with a competitive heart and great balance. In fact, he is considered one of the most complete players to ever play the running back position.
Emmitt Smith’s list of accomplishments at Texas Stadium and in visiting stadiums is long. Some of his accomplishments include being the first player in NFL history to have five consecutive seasons with 1,400+ rushing yards and, along with NFL great Jim Brown, having seven consecutive seasons with 10 touchdowns to start his career. . In 2001, with 1,021 rushing yards, Smith became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in 11 consecutive seasons and the first to record 11 1,000-yard rushing seasons in one career. Smith currently holds the NFL record for career rushing yards with 18,355. Breaking Walter Payton’s previous record on October 27, 2002, Smith is the only player in NFL history to rush for more than 18,000 yards. He leads all running backs with 166 career touchdowns, and his 175 total touchdowns rank second only to Jerry Rice’s 207 touchdowns. Smith also has several NFL postseason records to his name, including rushing touchdowns (19), consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (9), and 100-yard rushing games (7). His 1,586 rushing yards also top the NFL’s postseason list, and he shares the postseason touchdown total mark of 21 with Thurman Thomas.
In February 2005, Emmitt Smith was released from the Arizona Cardinals and signed a one-day, no-money deal with his former Cowboys team, after which he immediately retired as a Dallas Cowboy. Emmitt Smith left an impressive legacy and a lasting impression on the entire National Football League. The NFL’s Dallas Cowboys have been an exceptional team over the years thanks to its many outstanding stars. Emmitt Smith is one of those stars and a legend in Dallas Cowboys history.
