Emmitt Smith is a household name for NFL fans, but he gained a whole new group of admirers when he swapped his football cleats for ballroom shoes. He showed the world that his famous “quick feet” could do more than just score touchdowns. For 15 seasons, Smith’s greatest rivals were Hall of Fame defenders. But in 2006, his competitive drive was unexpectedly ignited by the then-talk show host, Jerry Springer, whom the former NFL player recalled on an episode of the NXT Chapter Podcast.

“I wasn’t scared, but I was nervous,” the football icon opened up about whether he felt any stage fright during his first appearance on Dancing with the Stars. “And I was nervous because I was so busy thinking about, ‘What are people going to say about me?’ I mean, what if I look crazy up here trying to dance? Even though I think I got some rhythm and I got some groove and everything else, what are people going to say? And so, when I did my very first cha-cha, and the people were excited about seeing me dance, I was like, ‘Okay, maybe I can do this.'”

However, his true competitive nature really came out during the tango. When he scored an 18, and his friend Jerry Springer scored a 21, Emmitt was genuinely frustrated, saying, “I was mad. That’s when the competitive side of me came out.”

Smith realized he couldn’t just balance his business life and dancing anymore; he had to go all in.

“Week two, I came back and did a quickstep,” he explained. “It was one of those where you’re in hold and pose, and I had to learn these things, body posture and everything else. Moving around and gliding on the floor felt good. It felt… I felt like Fred Astaire for some reason. I just felt like I’m doing something that I’ve never done before, and it doesn’t look bad, right?” 

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Emmitt eventually excelled in the ballroom by using the same natural balance and agility that made him a star in the NFL. On the dance floor, those traits helped him become the Season 3 Champion, making him the first NFL player to win the “Mirrorball Trophy.” His success proved that elite athletes could master the grace of ballroom dancing, and he remains one of the most beloved contestants in the show’s history.

The reason for his earlier nerves made sense, given his massive reputation. 

Emmitt Smith played in the NFL for 15 seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys and later with the Arizona Cardinals. During his time in the league, he became a football icon, leading the Cowboys to three Super Bowl championships and earning the NFL MVP title in 1993. By the time he retired after the 2004 season, he had become the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards, a record that still stands today.

The NFL still considers Emmitt Smith as one of the greatest RBs in NFL history

People often debate who the greatest running back in NFL history is, but Emmitt Smith is always at the center of that conversation. As the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, he finished his career with a massive 18,355 yards, making him the only player ever to break the 17,000-yard barrier. His dominance was unmatched during his prime; he led the entire league in rushing yards four times and in rushing touchdowns three times within just a few years.

Smith’s ability to find the end zone was legendary. He holds the record for the most career rushing touchdowns with 164 and ranks second in total touchdowns scored, trailing only Jerry Rice. He was remarkably consistent, setting a record by rushing for over 1,000 yards in 11 straight seasons. In 1995, he set a high bar by scoring at least one rushing touchdown in 15 different games. Alongside Jerry Rice, he is one of only two non-kickers to ever score more than 1,000 career points.

His greatness was even more apparent during the playoffs. Smith holds the NFL records for postseason rushing yards, touchdowns, and 100-yard games. He was the engine behind the Dallas Cowboys’ dynasty of the 1990s, helping them become the first team to win three Super Bowls in just four years. He even took home the NFL MVP and the Super Bowl MVP awards in the same season in 1993.

With the Arizona Cardinals, too, he set multiple records, including the NFL record for the most career 100-yard rushing games. On October 24, 2004, against the Seattle Seahawks, he recorded his 78th career 100-yard game, surpassing Walter Payton.

Emmitt Smith may not have been the fastest or the most elusive back to ever lace up cleats, but he was undeniably the most competitive. After all, he began playing organized football at the age of eight, often competing against older children. His college and NFL careers were a masterpiece of consistency, vision, and iron-willed toughness, which he kept showing even after he retired from the field.