Emmitt Smith Biography: Emmitt James Smith III born May 15, 1969 is a retired American professional football running back who had a 15-season career in the National Football League (NFL), spending 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and two with the Arizona Cardinals. Smith holds the title of the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. A native of Pensacola, Florida, Smith rose to prominence as the second-leading rusher in American high school football history while attending Escambia High School. He continued to excel at the University of Florida, where he set multiple rushing records over three seasons with the Gators. After earning unanimous All-American honors in 1989, Smith entered the NFL Draft, foregoing his final year of college eligibility. The Dallas Cowboys selected Smith with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
Emmitt Smith Biography
Emmitt Smith is widely considered one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. He spent the majority of his career—13 seasons—with the Dallas Cowboys, where he won three Super Bowl titles, before finishing his final two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Smith has an estimated net worth of $25 million, most of which was earned during his illustrious 15-year NFL career. Spotrac reports that Smith earned just over $61 million throughout his time in the league. While playing for the Cowboys, he accumulated an impressive $53,775,000 in salary. He added another $7.5 million during his two-year stint with the Cardinals. Following his retirement after the 2004 NFL season, Smith briefly served as an analyst for both NFL Network and ESPN. He later ventured into real estate, co-founding the development firm Smith/Cypress Partners LP with former Cowboys teammate and quarterback Roger Staubach.
Emmitt Smith Biography 2025 Details
| Born: |
May 15, 1969 (age 55)
Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
| Height: |
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight: |
221 lb (100 kg) |
| High school: |
Escambia (Pensacola) |
| College: |
Florida (1987–1989) |
| NFL draft: |
1990: 1st round, 17th pick |
| Category |
Football Biographies |
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About Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith III is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League for 15 seasons, 13 as a member of the Dallas Cowboys and 2 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Among other accolades, he is the league’s all-time leading rusher.
Emmitt Smith Wiki
- Born: 15 May 1969 (age 55 years), Pensacola, Florida, United States
- Number: 22 (Dallas Cowboys / Running back), 22 (Arizona Cardinals / Running back)
- 40 yard dash time: 4.55 seconds
- Position: Running back
- Spouse: Patricia Southall (m. 2000)
- Career start: 1990
- Career end: 2004
Early Life
Born in Pensacola, Florida, to Mary J. Smith and Emmitt James Smith Jr., Emmitt played his first organized football game at age eight on a Salvation Army-sponsored team. He attended Escambia High School, where he was a standout in both football and track. During his high school football career, Escambia won two state championships, and Smith rushed for 8,804 yards and 106 touchdowns, ranking him second in U.S. high school football history at the time. He rushed for over 100 yards in 45 of his 49 starts, including the final 28 consecutive games, and twice topped 2,000 rushing yards in a season.
In track, he competed as a sprinter, helping his 4 × 100 m relay team achieve a time of 42.16 seconds. Recognition of his high school accomplishments, Smith was named the 1986 National High School Player of the Year by several organizations, including USA Today, Parade Magazine, and Gatorade. In 2007, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) honored him as part of its All-Century Team and named him the state’s high school football “Player of the Century.”
Emmitt Smith Facts
Where does Emmitt Smith live? And how much money does Emmitt Smith earn?
| Birth Date |
15-5-1969 |
| Heritage/origin |
American |
| Ethnicity |
Afro-American |
| Religion – believes in God? |
Christian |
| Residence |
He owns a house in Dallas, Texas. |
Emmitt Smith Net Worth 2025, Salary
Emmitt Smith is an American retired professional football player who has a net worth of $25 million dollars. He is the National Football League’s (NFL) all-time leading rusher. Smith’s 2 years contract with the Cardinals worth $8 million.
| Estimated Net Worth |
25 million Dollar |
| Yearly Salary |
N/A |
| Colleagues |
Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin & Barry Sanders |
Emmitt Smith: Wife, Dating, Family & Friends
Emmitt Smith married former Miss Virginia, Patricia Southall since year 2000. The couple met at a music festival in Aruba and started a long-distance relationship.
| Relationship status |
Married (Since 2000) |
| Sexuality |
Straight |
| Current Wife of Emmitt Smith |
Patricia Southall |
| Ex-girlfriends or ex-wives |
|
| Has any kids? |
Yes, father of: Emmitt, Skylar & Elijah Alexander James |
Family
Names of father, mother, kids, brothers & sisters:
- Emory Smith (Brother)
- Emmitt James Smith, II (Father)
- Mary Clements Smith (Mother)
- Emmitt James IV (Son)
- Skylar (Daughter)
- Elijah Alexander James (Daughter)
Height, Weight, Body Measurements, Tattoos, Skin, Hair & Eye Color
This tough football player originating from Pensacola, Florida has a muscular body & oval face type.
| Hair color |
Black |
| Hairstyle |
simple |
| Beard or Mustache |
Chin Curtain |
| Eye Color |
Dark Brown |
| Height |
175 cm |
| Weight |
95 kilo |
| Feet size |
9.5 |
| Does Emmitt Smith smoke? |
Yes, regularly |
| Does Emmitt Smith have a tattoo? |
No |
| Fitness, workout and diet |
After retire from professional football career, Emmitt Smith is very into cycling. Smith visits performance cycling studio one or two days a week, and ride outside. |
FAQs
What teams did Emmitt Smith play for in the NFL?
Emmitt Smith played the majority of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, spending 13 seasons with the team. He then played his final two NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before retiring after the 2004 season.
How much money did Emmitt Smith earn during his NFL career?
According to Spotrac, Emmitt Smith earned just over $61 million in total during his 15-year NFL career. This includes over $53 million from his time with the Dallas Cowboys and $7.5 million with the Arizona Cardinals.
What is Emmitt Smith doing after retirement?
After retiring from professional football, Emmitt Smith worked briefly as an NFL analyst for ESPN and NFL Network. He also transitioned into real estate development, co-founding Smith/Cypress Partners LP with former teammate Roger Staubach.
How successful was Emmitt Smith in high school football?
Emmitt Smith was a standout high school athlete at Escambia High School in Pensacola, Florida. He rushed for 8,804 yards and 106 touchdowns, making him the second-leading rusher in American high school football history at the time.
What sports did Emmitt Smith play besides football?
In addition to football, Emmitt Smith also competed in track and field during high school. He was a sprinter and a member of the 4×100 meter relay team, showcasing his athletic versatility from an early age.
When was Emmitt Smith named Player of the Century?
In 2007, the Florida High School Athletic Association honored Emmitt Smith as the “Player of the Century” and named him to its All-Century Team, recognizing his legendary high school football career.
