California resident Paul Martinez enjoys playing sports and spending time in the gym, both recreationally and as a way of enhancing his work as a fire department captain. Paul Martinez also follows a variety of pro sports teams, including the Dallas Cowboys.
With five Super Bowl championships, Dallas has one of the most storied franchises in National Football League (NFL) history. From the team’s debut season in 1960, few individual players have impacted the Cowboys to the same degree as running back Emmitt Smith.
Smith was selected by the Cowboys with the 17th overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft. He went on to become one of the most successful running backs of all time. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, rushing for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns in his opening campaign.
However, Smith’s numbers would quickly climb to 1,713 yards and 18 touchdowns by his third year. Between 1991 and 1995, Smith led the league in rushing yards in four out of five seasons. He paced the league in touchdowns three times in the same period, with a career-high 1,773 yards and 25 touchdowns in 1995.
Smith was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first six seasons and to four All-Pro teams. He would spend 13 of his 15 NFL seasons with the Cowboys, finishing his career as the franchise’s all-time rushing leader, scoring leader, and added-value leader.
