Biography

Emmitt Smith holds “brand” recognition for his name alone through his success on and off the football field. The Cowboys drafted him in the first round of the 1990 draft. Coach Jimmy Johnson was looking to rebuild after a 1-15 season and felt that he could be the cornerstone of the Cowboy’s offense. Running through a fifteen year career and determined to triumph, he became the National Football League’s all-time leading rusher while accumulating three Super Bowl Championships, named league MVP in 1993, and MVP of Super Bowl XXVII that same year and made eight Pro Bowl appearances.

After retiring in 2005, Mr. Smith has continued to remain in the spotlight through his business endeavors, entertaining, and for giving back. He was most recently named champion of ABC’s hit TV show, Dancing With The Stars. The title has brought him much more publicity, appearing on numerous shows and magazines as the show was watched intently by America.

Emmitt Smith continues his on screen career as an analyst on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown shows, in addition to lending his voice to ESPN radio and ESPN.com.

As the President of SmithCypress Partners, a commercial real estate company based in Dallas, Mr. Smith is able to take his success to the business world, and has also founded Emmitt Smith Charities to aid in helping others to achieve their goals by providing educational scholarships to under served youth.

Though Emmitt Smith left college early to become Dallas’ first-round draft selection in 1990, he made vow to his mother to complete his degree. He fulfilled that promise by returning to the University of Florida each NFL off-season to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Public Recreation in 1996. He continues to support higher education and is currently sponsoring several underserved children’s college educations.

In the multi-faceted personality that Emmitt Smith exudes, he remains a sought after speaker for corporate events, giving advice on motivation, leadership, teamwork, discipline and winning with all audiences.

Read More

Videos

Emmitt Smith HOF speech

Emmitt Smith's legacy is about more than football | KNEADING DOUGH

Request Availability

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

Game On: A Championship Vision

Emmitt takes the audience through his life and career, weaving compelling stories with valuable lessons and inspirational messages. He talks about adapting to change and overcoming obstacles, achieving goals and maintaining success, and leadership and teamwork – while highlighting his journey as a football player, businessman, and even “Dancing with the Stars” champion.

Booksby Emmitt Smith

Game On

The Emmitt Zone

Blog Posts

The One Life Question That Separates Victims From Victors

One powerful question changed how keynote speaker John O'Leary chose to live his life. Discover the victim-or-victor framework that works for any challenge.

Read More

Insights from Ross Bernstein on What Champions Do When Nobody’s Watching

Learn how champions think differently and build winning habits that transform teams from talented to unstoppable with peak performance speaker Ross Bernstein.

Read More

7 Year-End Lessons From Keynote Speaker Every Event Planner Needs Before 2026

Learn 7 powerful year-end lessons from top keynote speakers to transform your event planning strategy and personal growth in 2026.

Read More

The Event Budget Mistake Most Planners Make

Learn with Scott Bloom why smart event planners invest in professional emcees instead of expensive keynotes to create unforgettable multi-day event experiences.

Read More

Analog Strategies That Reduce Digital Anxiety (From a Former White House CIO)

Learn how to calm digital anxiety with proven analog strategies from former White House CIO Theresa Payton that can help you restore your human connections.

Read More

How Elite Teams Prevent Catastrophic Failures Before They Happen (Teamwork Lessons From a Fighter Pilot)

Navy fighter pilot Jack Becker reveals how elite teams catch errors fast, protect blind spots, and perform under pressure using proven teamwork strategies.

Read More

Related Leadership Speakers

Contact Us Today

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Fill out the form so we can best understand your needs.
    A representative from The Keynote Curators will reach out to you.

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form