Emmitt Smith’s Son Signs with Chiefs

EJ Smith, son of Dallas Cowboys great Emmitt Smith, didn’t hear his name called during the first three days of the NFL Draft, but he landed an NFL team on Sunday. The running back, who played for the Texas A&M Aggies and Stanford Cardinal, has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.

This opportunity seems great for Smith as he aims to secure a spot on the final 53-man roster before the upcoming 2026 season. Learning from Super Bowl-winning coach Andy Reid could be invaluable for him, especially since the Chiefs have cycled through various running backs since establishing their dynasty in 2019.

Since that year, numerous players, like Damien Williams, LeSean McCoy, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, among others, have all played key roles in the backfield. The Chiefs have also made strides this offseason by signing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and drafting new talents such as Emmett Johnson.

In his college career, Smith accumulated 969 rushing yards and nine touchdowns across 48 games. Emmitt Smith spoke about his son’s transition into the professional realm before the draft. He recounted a conversation where EJ expressed concerns about living up to his father’s legacy.

Emmitt advised, “You have to run your own race and ignore what others say. Focus on being yourself and honing your skills. Just go out there, put on the blindfold and run the race. You never know where it could lead you—one day you might just find yourself in the Super Bowl.”

He emphasized the importance of staying focused and not letting external pressures dictate expectations, encouraging EJ to meet his own goals above all else.