GOAT Index

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Emmitt Smith: the case for the GOAT

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    Emmitt Smith: the case for the GOAT

    RB · Cowboys · Born 15 May 1969, Pensacola, Florida, USA · Career 1990–2004

    Running back who powered the Dallas Cowboys' 1990s dynasty, closing his career with two seasons in Arizona.

    Career highlights

    Why Emmitt Smith could be the GOAT

    Smith holds the two biggest rushing records in football: career yards and career rushing touchdowns. He paired that durability with three championships, winning league and Super Bowl MVP in the same season. No running back on this list combines his production with his team success.

    What fans say

    Emmitt Smith is #12 of 30 in the fan ranking, with a 4–3 head-to-head record from 76 NFL votes. See the full NFL GOAT ranking

    Emmitt Smith head to head

    How the ranking works. Every head-to-head vote is a result, like a game. The standings use a Bradley–Terry model, the same idea behind chess ratings: beating a highly rated legend counts for more than beating a long shot. Ratings are shown on a chess-style scale centred on 1500.

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