Emmitt Smith Counsels Son EJ on NFL Legacy Pressures
Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, shared advice he once gave his son EJ, a Texas A&M running back nearing the NFL draft. EJ confided in high school about feeling pressure to match his father's achievements, prompting Emmitt to urge him to focus on personal expectations over others'. Emmitt recounted the exchange in a recent interview, emphasizing self-reliance amid scrutiny.
EJ Smith served mostly as a backup during his college career at Texas A&M and earlier at Stanford before transferring. He earned a workout invitation this month from the Dallas Cowboys, Emmitt's longtime team where the elder Smith won three Super Bowl titles. The Aggies back ran for yards in games including a matchup against Miami at Kyle Field and another versus Florida.
Emmitt Smith holds the NFL rushing record with his Hall of Fame career spanning 1990-2004, mostly with Dallas. He recalled EJ's question directly: "'How do I deal with all the pressure?'" Emmitt responded by asking whose expectations mattered most, advising, "You gotta run your race, and you gotta disregard what other people are saying... Put your blinders on."
Ahead of the draft later this month, Emmitt plans to tell EJ to avoid television and play golf instead, letting his agent deliver any team calls. The family anticipates positive news as EJ pursues a professional opportunity.
