Pro Football Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith has hit out at rival fans for mocking the Cowboys while admitting that the team has underperformed. In a recent interview, the former running back referred to Dallas’ nearly 30-year wait for a Super Bowl as “a crying shame.”
Emmitt Smith Expresses Anguish At Cowboys’ Underachievement
During a recent interview with “The Sweet Spot” on 96.7FM The Ticket, the legendary Cowboys running back was asked for his thoughts on the team’s recent lack of success. It’s been 29 years since Dallas last appeared in an NFC Championship game, going on to win it all in 1995. In those 29 years, the team has only made the divisional round on seven occasions and has missed out on the playoffs more often than not.
During the team’s last Super Bowl-winning season in 1995, Smith led the NFL in both rushing yards (1,775) and rushing touchdowns (25), averaging 110.8 yards per game. Emmitt added a further six rushing touchdowns in the playoffs as the Cowboys won its third Super Bowl in four years.
Dallas’ failure to add more success since, though, has troubled Smith, who is upset at the team’s now-vulnerable reputation.
“I’m sick of it,” he said. “And I’m sick of it for two reasons. One, we have allowed others to come and nitpick at the star and make fun of the star.” Smith was talking primarily about fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas’ bitter divisional rivals.
“Now, all of a sudden, over the last 20 years, they’ve won two Super Bowls; they think they’re the best thing on the doggone planet.” Smith was in no mood to disguise his displeasure at Philadelphia’s recent success and the smugness of its fanbase. “Now, everywhere I go, I hear ‘Go birds!’ I’m sick of hearing, ‘Go birds!’
Smith Feels That Dallas Should Be Competing For Super Bowls Every Decade
Smith then revealed that his disappointment stems from his high level of expectation regarding the team. According to the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, the Cowboys should be regularly competing for titles.
“That part bugs me. It bugs me because, in my heart, I truly believe our organization should be contending for an NFC championship game and even a Super Bowl at least once or twice every decade because every team recycles every decade,” he said. “For us not to be there over the last 30 years is a crying shame.”
Failure in 2025 will mark a dreaded 30-year drought for one of the most famous teams in sports. The return to health of Dak Prescott is significant; the team’s only two losing seasons since drafting Prescott have coincided with his most severely injury-hit years. With the team still short of offensive firepower outside of Prescott and star receiver CeeDee Lamb, though, much work is still to be done before September.