Emmitt Smith Sets NFL Rushing Record
Sunday, October 27, 2002 | Football
Former Gator Emmitt Smith became the NFL's all-time leading rusher Sunday afternoon with an 11-yard run against the Seattle Seahawks in Dallas. Smith surpassed the long-time record held by Walter Payton, who rushed for 16,726 yards in his 13-year.
Smith reached the mark in his 13th year in the NFL, all of them with the Dallas Cowboys. Smith, who needed just 93 yards to break the record when the day started, was already the NFL's all-time leader for rushing touchdowns, attempts, 1,000-yard seasons and postseason rushing touchdowns. The holder of 43 Cowboy records, he led the NFL in rushing from 1991-93 and 1995. He has 11 1,000-yard seasons and played in nine Pro Bowls. He was the NFL MVP in 1993 and was also the Super Bowl XXVIII MVP in one of the three Cowboys Super Bowl championship teams (1992-93, 1995).
Smith was a three-time All-American at the University of Florida from 1987-89. He established 58 school records in three seasons, including a career rushing mark of 3,928 yards. He surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in his seventh game, earlier than any player in college football history. He also became the second freshman to finish in the top 10 in the Heisman Trophy balloting (Herschel Walker was the other) and earned Freshman of the Year honors from UPI and The Sporting News. In 1989, he set a school single-game rushing mark with 316 yards against New Mexico on his way to a school-record 1,599 yards rushing for the season. In three seasons, he became the fifth leading all-time rusher in SEC history and led the Gators in receiving two-of-the-three seasons.
Smith returned to Gainesville and received his degree in Public Recreation in May of 1996.
Smith was a consensus All-America running back and prep Player of the Year by Parade Magazine and USA Today as a senior at Escambia, High School in Florida. He posted the third highest career rushing and scoring totals in national high school history with 8,804 yards and 106 touchdowns.
