Emmitt Smith

The Dallas Cowboys selected Emmitt Smith with the 17th pick in the 1990 NFL Draft. He amazingly was not the 1st running back selected (the NY Jets selected RB Blair Thomas with the 2nd pick). Smith went on to play the first 13 of his 15 - season career with the Cowboys during which he helped the Cowboys win 3 Super Bowls. He gained over 1,000 yards in 11 consecutive seasons and totaled 18,355 yards on the ground for his career which is # 1 all-time in NFL history. Smith was an 8-time Pro Bowler and was the MVP of Super Bowl XXVIII in which the Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills 30-13. Smith retired after the 2004 season, his 2nd one with the Arizona Cardinals, and he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2010. *By the way, in his brief 5 year career, Blair Thomas gained 2,236 yards rushing, more than 16,000 less than Emmitt Smith.