Smith Bids Emotional Farewell to NFL

After running for 18,355 yards, the most in NFL history, Emmitt Smith took the final step of his career Thursday, walking away from the sport that has been his life.

At a tearful news conference held in a ballroom at Super Bowl headquarters, Smith announced that he was retiring at 35, after 15 seasons, full of pride and free of regret.

“It’s been a tremendous ride,” he said. “I’ve given everything I could possibly give to the game.”

He leaves it, though, with credentials that assure his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he is eligible in five years. Smith scored a record 164 touchdowns rushing, won four rushing titles, was on three Super Bowl championship teams and won two most valuable player awards, one as league MVP in 1993 and the other as MVP of Super Bowl XXVIII in 1994. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl eight times.

Smith recorded nearly all of his accomplishments with the Dallas Cowboys before concluding his career in two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

And technically, Smith is retiring as a Cowboy. The Cardinals have declined to give him a new contract, so he will sign a one-day, ceremonial deal with Dallas.

As he dabbed at tears and lovingly rubbed the side of a Cowboy helmet, his hand coming to rest on the star that serves as the Cowboy logo, Smith turned to owner Jerry Jones and said, “You don’t know how much this star means to me. You took a chance on me and I thank you for that. You gave me the opportunity to have a life greater than I could ever imagine. You gave a young man from Pensacola [Fla.] an opportunity and I hope I did not disappoint you.”

Replied Jones, “Your place in the franchise will always be secure.”

Smith set 58 school records at the University of Florida, including the school’s all-time rushing mark of 3,928 yards, yet was considered something of a gamble, considering he stood only 5-10 and was not particularly fast.

Nevertheless, Dallas used the 17th pick in the first round of the 1990 draft to make him a Cowboy.

“The fight doesn’t always go to the biggest or the swiftest,” said Dennis Green, who, in Arizona, was Smith’s final coach, and attended Thursday’s farewell news conference.

Former Cowboy fullback Daryl Johnston, also in attendance, said he’d formed his judgment about Smith early.

“I could see in that first training camp that he was sturdy and he had the balance,” Johnston said. “The question was, what kind of a worker he was. It didn’t take long to see that he had that too. He was something special. He could motivate his teammates.”

Behind Smith on the NFL rushing list are Walter Payton, 16,726 yards; Barry Sanders. 15,269; Jerome Bettis, 13,294 and counting; and Eric Dickerson, 13,259.

Many football experts consider Jim Brown, who finished far down the list because he retired in his prime, the greatest runner ever.

Asked where he thought he belonged, Smith said, “That’s not for me to determine. Just because I had more yards than anybody else doesn’t mean I’m the best. All I can say is, I did all I could in my time.”

Smith said his time ran out because he chose to let it. He had no future in either Dallas or Arizona but said there were other options after a season during which he’d rushed for 937 yards and scored nine touchdowns.

“I got a few calls from some other people who were interested in seeing me play for them,” Smith said. “I retired due to the fact that I did not want to move my family to another location, did not want to bounce my way around the country, searching for a home. I have a home with my family.”

Smith, who lives with his wife and four children, discounted reports that he planned to join a group of investors interested in buying the Minnesota Vikings. He said he would like to emulate Magic Johnson, who has followed his playing career by becoming a successful businessman, and perhaps pursue broadcasting opportunities.

“I feel I was destined to do the things I did,” Smith said. “People can say what they want to say, but they cannot stop your destiny.”

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Run Through History

Emmitt Smith’s career NFL highlights:

* Won three Super Bowls (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) in four years with the Dallas Cowboys.

* Named league MVP in 1993.

* Super Bowl XXVIII MVP, rushing for 130 yards and two touchdowns in Cowboys’ 30-13 win over Buffalo.

* Rushed for over 1,400 yards in five consecutive seasons (1991 to ‘95).

* Became the all-time rushing leader on Oct. 27, 2002, when he surpassed Walter Payton’s mark of 16,726. He finished his career with 18,355 yards (13 seasons with Dallas and two with Arizona).

* Only player in league history to rush for over 1,000 yards in 11 consecutive seasons (1991 to 2001).

* Most rushing attempts in league history (4,409).

* Ran for 1,773 yards and a then-record 25 touchdowns in 1995.

* Set league record with 164 career rushing touchdowns.

* Selected to Pro Bowl eight times; league rushing leader four times.

* NFL’s all-time leading rushers:

Emmitt Smith...18,355

Walter Payton...16,726

Barry Sanders...15,269