The Triplets. The famed trio of Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmitt Smith will forever be celebrated for what they accomplished together as Dallas Cowboys.
Three Lombardi Trophies. Numerous league and team records broken. The glory returned to a storied franchise that, since the 1970s, had been begging for a return trip to the NFL's championship. Aikman, Irvin, and Smith did all they could for Dallas and more.
Now, I am going to ask you to make one of the toughest football choices you've ever made on a Sunday Poll: Choose your favorite Triplet. But before you do, let's run through the wonderful memories we Cowboys fans have of the 1990s.
Troy Aikman, the quarterback with the most wins (90) of the 1990s --of any decade, for that matter--is remembered best by his accuracy and his toughness. His arm led the turnaround that took a 1-15 Cowboys team his rookie year in '89 to one of the greatest dynasties in pro football.
By the time of his retirement in 2000, Aikman finished his career by completing 61.5% of his passes for 32,942 yards and 165 touchdowns. Aikman, though, was not known as a player who put up gaudy numbers. He was known and appreciated for excelling with the one intangible that every NFL quarterback must have: leadership.
Today, Aikman is still very much affiliated with the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas area, serving as the vice-chair on the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee.
Michael Irvin, owner of 20 Cowboys receiving records, is remembered best by his competitive bravado and his ability to live up to his moniker and make plays. It is widely believed that Irvin was the hardest working member of the Dallas teams in the 1990s. Teammates said he never took a play off--neither in games nor in practice.
Irvin was a clutch receiver for Aikman and the Cowboys, finishing his career with 750 catches for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns.
Today, Irvin maintains his connection with the Cowboys and often makes his presence known to young wide receivers during training camp. He also gave one of the most memorable Hall of Fame induction speeches ever: "Look up, get up, and don't ever give up."
Last week, BTB members debated whether any running back could ever replicate what Emmitt Smith accomplished during his career. For many reasons, it's hard to imagine one doing so.
Smith is remembered for his heart. He led by example and repeatedly put all on the line for the team. On many memorable drives, he was the Cowboys offense. The four-time NFL single-season rushing champion is the first player to run for more than 1,000 years 11 seasons in a row. His 18,355 rushing yards is one of many career highlights that also include the Super Bowl XXVIII MVP and league MVP honors for the 1993 season.
Today, Smith remains a charitable figure in the Dallas area and is preparing to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 7.
Additional Career Statistics: Passing: 1-1-21, 1 TD; Two-Point Conversions: 1
Championship Games
1992 NFC – Dallas Cowboys 30, San Francisco 49ers 20 Smith started at running back. He had 24 carries for 114 yards and one touchdown. He also had seven receptions for 59 yards and one touchdown.
1993 NFC – Dallas Cowboys 38, San Francisco 49ers 21 Smith started at running back. He had 23 carries for 88 yards and one touchdown. He also had seven receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown.
1994 NFC – San Francisco 49ers 38, Dallas Cowboys 28 Smith started at running back. He had 20 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three receptions for five yards.
1995 NFC – Dallas Cowboys 38, Green Bay Packers 27 Smith started at running back. He had 35 rushes for 150 yards and three touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 17 yards.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl XXVII – Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17 Smith started at running back. He had 22 carries for 108 yards and one touchdown. He also had six receptions for 27 yards.
Super Bowl XXVIII – Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13 Smith started at running back. He had 30 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns. He also had four receptions for 26 yards. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Super Bowl XXX – Dallas Cowboys 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17 Smith started at running back. He had 18 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns. He also had one reception for three yards.
• [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Career – 4,409 • [1st] Most Rushing Yards, Career – 18,355 • [1st] Most Seasons, 1,000 or More Yards Rushing – 11 • [1st] Most Consecutive Seasons, 1,000 or More Yards Rushing – 11 (1991-2001) • [1st] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing, Career – 78 • [1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career – 164 • [1st] Most Combined Attempts, Career – 4,939 • [2nd] Most Touchdowns, Career – 175 • [2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Season – 25 (1995) • [2nd] Most Yards from Scrimmage, Career – 21,579 • [Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons Leading League in Touchdowns – 3 (1992, 1994-95) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons Leading League in Rushing – 4 (1991-93, 1995) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading League in Rushing – 3 (1991-93) • [3rd] Most Touchdowns, Season – 25 (1995) • [Tied for 3rd] Most Seasons Leading League in Rushing Attempts – 3 (1991, 1994-95) • [Tied for 3rd] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing, Season – 11 (1995) • [Tied for 3rd] Most Seasons Leading League in Rushing Touchdowns – 3 (1992, 1994-95) • [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Games with Rushing Touchdown – 11 (1994-95, 1995)
Super Bowl Records • [1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career – 5 • [2nd] Most Points, Career – 30 • [2nd] Most Touchdowns, Career – 5 • [2nd] Most Rushing Attempts, Career – 70 • [2nd] Most Combined Attempts, Career – 81 • [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns, Game – 2 (vs. Buffalo, Super Bowl XXVIII; vs. Pittsburgh, Super Bowl XXX) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game – 2 (vs. Buffalo, Super Bowl XXVIII; vs. Pittsburgh, Super Bowl XXX) • [3rd] Most Rushing Yards Gained, Career – 289 • [Tied for 3rd] Most Combined Attempts, Game – 34 (vs. Buffalo, Super Bowl XXVIII)
Postseason Records • [1st] Most Rushing Yards, Career – 1,586 • [1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career – 19 • [Tied for 1st] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing – 7 • [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games Scoring a Rushing Touchdown – 8 (1993-1996) • [2nd] Most Rushing Attempts, Career – 349 • [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns, Career – 21 • [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns, Game – 3 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 14, 1996 – NFC championship) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Games Scoring a Touchdown – 8 (1993-96) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game – 3 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 14, 1996 – NFC championship) • [3rd] Most Combined Attempts, Career – 397 • [Tied for 3rd] Most Points Scored, Career – 126
Team Records
Cowboys records held by Smith (Records through the 2002 season, Smith’s final season with Dallas)
• [1st] Most Points Scored, Career – 986 • [1st] Most Points Scored, Season – 150 (1995) • [1st] Most Seasons Leading Team in Touchdowns – 11 • [1st] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading Team in Touchdowns – 7 (1990-96) • [1st] Most Touchdowns Scored, Career – 164 • [1st] Most Touchdowns Scored, Season – 25 (1995) • [1st] Most Consecutive Touchdowns Scored – 11 (1994-95; 1995) • [1st] Most Seasons Leading Team in Rushing – 13 • [1st] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading Team in Rushing – 13 (1990-2002) • [1st] Most Consecutive Games Leading Team in Rushing – 41 (1994-96) • [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Career – 4,052 • [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Season – 377 (1995) • [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Rookie Season – 241 (1990) • [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Game – 35 (vs. N.Y. Giants, Nov. 7, 1994) • [1st] Most Rushing Yards, Career – 17,162 • [1st] Most Rushing Yards, Season – 1,773 (1995) • [1st] Most Rushing Yards, Game – 237 (at Philadelphia, Oct. 31, 1993) • [1st] Most Seasons, 1,000 or More Yards Rushing – 11 • [1st] Most Consecutive Seasons, 1,000 or More Yards Rushing – 11 (1991-2001) • [1st] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing, Career – 76 • [1st] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing, Season – 11 (1995) • [1st] Most Seasons Leading Team in Rushing Touchdowns – 13 • [1st] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading Team in Rushing Touchdowns – 13 (1990-2002) • [1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns Scored, Career – 153 • [1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns Scored, Season – 25 (1995) • [1st] Most Consecutive Rushing Touchdowns Scored – 11 (1994-95; 1995) • [1st] Most Seasons Leading the Team in Combined Net Yards – 10 • [1st] Most Combined Net Attempts, Career – 4,538 • [1st] Most Combined Net Attempts, Season – 439 (1995) • [1st] Most Combined Net Attempts, Game – 42 (at N.Y. Giants, Jan. 2, 1994) • [1st] Most Combined Net Yards, Career – 20,174 • [1st] Most Combined Net Yards, Season – 2,148 (1995) • [Tied for 1st] Most Points Scored, Game – 24 (vs. Phoenix, Dec. 16, 1990; at N.Y. Giants, Sept. 4, 1995) • [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns Scored, Game – 4 (vs. Phoenix, Dec. 16, 1990; at N.Y. Giants, Sept. 4, 1995) • [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing – 4 (1995 {twice}) • [Tied for 1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns Scored, Game – 4 (vs. Phoenix, Dec. 16, 1990; at N.Y. Giants, Sept. 4, 1995) • [2nd] Most Games Started, Career – 199 • [2nd] Most Touchdowns Scored, Season – 22 (1994) • [2nd] Most Touchdowns Scored, Rookie Season – 11 (1990) • [2nd] Most Consecutive Touchdowns Scored – 9 (1993-94; 1998-1999) • [2nd] Most Consecutive Games Leading Team in Rushing – 32 (1990-92) • [2nd] Most Rushing Attempts, Season – 373 (1992) • [2nd] Most Rushing Attempts, Game – 34 (at Washington, Nov. 24, 1991) • [2nd] Most Rushing Yards, Season – 1,713 (1992) • [2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns Scored, Season – 21 (1994) • [2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns Scored, Rookie Season – 11 (1990) • [2nd] Most Consecutive Rushing Touchdowns Scored – 7 (1994) • [2nd] Most Pass Receptions, Game – 12 (at Phoenix, Nov. 22, 1992) • [2nd] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading the Team in Combined Net Yards – 7 (1990-96) • [2nd] Most Combined Net Attempts, Season – 433 (1992) • [2nd] Most Combined Net Attempts, Game – 39 (at Green Bay, Oct. 6, 1991) • [2nd] Most Combined Net Yards, Season – 2,048 (1992) • [2nd] Most Points Scored, Season – 132 (1994) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading Team in Touchdowns – 4 (1998-2001) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing, Season – 9 (1999) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons, 50 or More Pass Receptions – 4 (1992-95) • [3rd] Most Touchdowns Scored, Season – 19 (1992) • [3rd] Most Rushing Attempts, Season – 368 (1994) • [3rd] Highest Average Gain Per Rushing Attempt, Season – 5.25 (1993) • [3rd] Most Rushing Touchdowns Scored, Season – 18 (1992) • [3rd] Most Combined Net Attempts, Season – 418 (1994) • [3rd] Most Combined Net Attempts, Game – 38 (at Cleveland, Sept. 1, 1991; vs. N.Y. Giants, Nov. 7, 1994; vs. Green Bay, Nov. 24, 1994) • [Tied for 3rd] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing, Season – 8 (1991) • [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading the Team in Combined Net Yards – 3 (1998-2000)
Postseason Records
• [1st] Most Points Scored, Career – 126 • [1st] Most Touchdowns, Career – 21 • [1st] Most Consecutive Games Scoring a Touchdown – 8 (1993-96) • [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Career – 349 • [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Game – 35 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 14, 1996) • [1st] Most Rushing Yards, Career – 1,586 • [1st] Longest Rush From Scrimmage – 65 (at Minnesota, Jan. 9, 2000) • [1st] Most Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing – 7 • [1st] Most Consecutive Games, 100 or More Yards Rushing – 3 (1992) • [1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career – 19 • [1st] Most Consecutive Games Scoring a Rushing Touchdown – 8 (1993-96) • [1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game – 3 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 14, 1996) • [Tied for 1st] Most Points Scored, Game – 18 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 14, 1996) • [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns, Game – 3 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 14, 1996) • [2nd] Most Rushing Yards, Game – 150 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 14, 1996) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Games Scoring a Rushing Touchdown – 3 (1992) • [Tied for 2nd] Most Rushing Attempts, Game – 30 (vs. Buffalo, Super Bowl XXVIII) • [3rd] Highest Average Gain Per Rushing Attempt, Career – 4.54 • [3rd] Highest Average Gain Per Rushing Attempt, Game – 6.82 (vs. Minnesota, Dec. 28, 1996) • [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Games Scoring a Touchdown – 3 (1992)
• 1990s All-Decade Team • 1990 Offensive Rookie of the Year (AP, PW) • 1993 Most Valuable Player (AP, PFWA, SN, MX) • 1993 Offensive Player of the Year (PW) • 1993 NFC Offensive Player of the Year (UPI)
Year-by-Year Team Records
Year
Team
W
L
T
Division Finish
1990
Dallas Cowboys
7
9
0
4
1991
Dallas Cowboys
11
5
0
2
1992
Dallas Cowboys
13
3
0
1
1993
Dallas Cowboys
12
4
0
1
1994
Dallas Cowboys
12
4
0
1
1995
Dallas Cowboys
12
4
0
1
1996
Dallas Cowboys
10
6
0
1
1997
Dallas Cowboys
6
10
0
4
1998
Dallas Cowboys
10
6
0
1
1999
Dallas Cowboys
8
8
0
2
2000
Dallas Cowboys
5
11
0
4
2001
Dallas Cowboys
5
11
0
5
2002
Dallas Cowboys
5
11
0
4
2003
Arizona Cardinals
4
12
0
4
2004
Arizona Cardinals
6
10
0
3
Full Name: Emmitt James Smith, III
Birthdate: May 15, 1969
Birthplace: Pensacola, Florida
High School: Escambia (Pensacola, FL)
Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame: February 6, 2010
Drafted: 1st round (17th player overall) in 1990 by Dallas Cowboys
Uniform Number: #22
It's only natural to change your mind a couple of times before making that ultimate vote. Just take a deep breath, commit to one, and defend your choice with statistical analysis, unwavering devotion, persuasive anecdotes, or whatever you tend to use best in these comment boards.
No tricks, buts, or what-ifs here. No conditionals whatsoever. Just, of the Triplets, who is your favorite?
Full Name: Emmitt James Smith, III