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.

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Videos

Emmitt Smith HOF speech

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

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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

Creating Impactful Leadership with Gratitude: Lessons from Chris Schembra

Learn from keynote speaker Chris Schembra how gratitude transforms leaders and help them build a workplace culture that people want to be part of.

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7 Ways Gratitude Transforms Your Events (From Burnout to Breakthrough)

Gratitude isn't about being nice; it's a performance tool. Learn how to design events that help attendees feel seen, process hard years, and leave inspired.

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Best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Retail & eCommerce Conferences (2026)

Discover the Best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Retail & eCommerce Conferences and design AI agendas that grow revenue, CX, and loyalty.

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Best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Insurance Conferences (2026)

Your guide to the best artificial intelligence speakers for insurance, with experts who turn AI trends into real carrier results.

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Why Thought Leadership Fails and What Employees Actually Want From Their Managers

Research reveals employees want respect and trust before advanced leadership techniques. Learn what really matters to your team.

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Why Top Event Planners Build a Strong Community First (And You Should Too)

Transform attendees into collaborators with proven community-building strategies that make your events memorable, meaningful, and worth returning to.

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