NFL’S ALL-TIME LEADING RUSHER EMMITT SMITH PROFILED ON NFL NETWORK’S A FOOTBALL LIFE
‘Emmitt Smith: A Football Life’ Premieres Friday, September 22 at 9:00 PM ET
“I would love to say that everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve left some imprints and I’ve left that position better than it was before I got there.” – Emmitt Smith
The seventh season of NFL Network’s Emmy-nominated series A Football Life continues Friday, September 22 at 9:00 PM ET with a profile of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith. The one-hour show produced by NFL Films features sitdown interviews with Smith, Cowboys teammates Troy Aikman, Nate Newton and Daryl Johnston, Cowboys ownerJerry Jones, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Hall of Fame running backs Jim Brown, Marshall Faulk and Barry Sanders, and more.
Each episode of A Football Life – as well as all NFL Network programming – is streamed live on smartphones through NFL Mobile from Verizon, and via Watch NFL Network on tablet (NFL Mobile, Watch NFL Network and NFL on Windows 10 apps), PC (NFL.com/watch), Xbox One and Xbox 360 (NFL on Xbox app) and other connected TV devices (NFL app on Apple TV, PlayStation 4, Android TV and Amazon Fire TV).
The NFL’s all-time leading rusher, as well as the record holder for the most career rushing touchdowns in the regular season, the playoffs and the Super Bowl, Emmitt Smith is statistically in a category all by himself. Everywhere Smith played, he revived those teams and ultimately left them in a better place than they were when he arrived. Emmitt Smith: A Football Life details Smith’s incredible football career, marked by the lofty numbers he amassed on the field and the enduring legacy he has had off the field.
Among the topics discussed in Emmitt Smith: A Football Life are:
- Leading his high school Escambia High to two straight state titles and a No. 1 national ranking
- Becoming the all-time leading rusher at the University of Florida
- His holdout following the 1992 season and signing a new contract after the first two games of the 1993 season
- Breaking Walter Payton’s all-time rushing record in 2002 against the Seattle Seahawks
- Signing with the Arizona Cardinals in 2003 and the impact he had on the organization
- His return to Dallas as a member of the Cardinals
Emmy-nominated actor Josh Charles narrates.
Emmitt Smith: A Football Life includes interviews with the following people and more:
Emmitt Smith
Pat Smith – Wife
Emory Smith – Brother
Jerry Jones – Hall of Fame Cowboys owner
Jimmy Johnson – Former Cowboys head coach
Troy Aikman – Cowboys teammate and Hall of Fame quarterback
Barry Sanders – Hall of Fame running back
Jim Brown – Hall of Fame running back
Marshall Faulk – Hall of Fame running back
Daryl Johnston – Cowboys teammate
Nate Newton – Cowboys teammate
James Washington – Cowboys teammate
Michael Bidwill – Cardinals president
Larry Fitzgerald – Cardinals teammate
Adrian Wilson – Cardinals teammate
Brad Sham – Cowboys radio announcer
Ed Werder – Dallas reporter
Cheryl Burke – Partner on Dancing with the Stars
Provided below are some select quotes from Emmitt Smith: A Football Life:
– “I don’t even care [who the greatest running back is] but I would love to say that everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve left some imprints and I’ve left that position better than it was before I got there.”– Emmitt Smith
– “There is nothing negative I could ever say about his performance and his attitude. Emmitt wouldn’t have to stand behind anybody.” – Jim Brown
– “That was our finest hour during my tenure with the Dallas Cowboys. That really doesn’t happen without Emmitt Smith’s will to be there.” – Jerry Jones
– “That moment wasn’t just for Emmitt Smith. That moment was for the village of people that have poured into me and helped shape me into the person that I have become, the football player that I once was and hopefully the father that I am. Period.” – Emmitt Smith
– “I’ve always said when you talk about the Cowboy greats, there is no one greater than Roger Staubach. But if there were to ever be anyone that would rival Roger, it would be Emmitt Smith.” – Troy Aikman
– “I wasn’t thinking about retiring. I had just come off of breaking the record and having over 1,200 yards. Then Jerry [Jones] and I had some meetings that my career with the Dallas Cowboys was probably going to be no longer. Would I have loved to have stay here? Yes, without a doubt. Would I have taken a paycut to stay here? Yes, without doubt.” – Emmitt Smith
– “When we decided to move on, my wish was that he would retire. I just couldn’t picture him with another jersey on.” – Jerry Jones
– “Honestly, I was like this is a publicity stunt. But he was such a model of professionalism. He brought the same energy every single day and I didn’t understand how he could do that at such an older age.” – Adrian Wilson
This year, the 13-episode season of the highly-acclaimed series A Football Life airs Friday at 9:00 PM ET. Below is a broadcast schedule for upcoming episodes of A Football Life:
- September 29 – John Madden
- October 6 – Wes Welker
- October 13 – Sam Mills
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