Emmitt Smith

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.

Videos

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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

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Photos

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Blog Posts

Crafting Personalized Health & Self‑Care Practices with Johnny Crowder

Everywhere you turn, someone is talking about health and self‑care rituals. Keynote speaker Johnny Crowder shares why true self‑care is not one‑size‑fits‑all.

Elevate Your Event With These Skills: Insights from Gabriella Robuccio

Think event planning is all about checklists and timetables? Think again. Emmy‑winning strategist Gabriella Robuccio shares more on The Keynote Curators Podcast.

Celebrating Juneteenth with These Transformative Keynotes

Learn how intentional Juneteenth programming paired with transformative keynote speakers can turn commemoration into sustained equity and inclusion.

AI, GEO, & SEO Marketing for Speakers: The 2025 Authority-Building Playbook

How Professional Speakers and Speaker Bureaus Can Leverage AI to Build Unshakeable Authority and Increase Visibility in the New Search Landscape

Rethinking Events: Bite-Sized Surprises and Live Interaction with Seth Godin

Seth Godin shares his strategies and suggestions for unforgettable events—from riff-based teaching to co-creation through communication and creativity.

Aligning Prosperity with Purpose: Money Lessons from Doug Lynam

Marine. Monk. Manager. Behavioral finance expert Doug Lynam helps you heal your relationship with finances, aligning prosperity with a deeper, personal purpose.