The son of NFL rushing king Emmitt Smith, EJ Smith is chasing his own NFL opportunity in Kansas City after college stops at Stanford and Texas A&M.
EJ Smith carries one of the most recognizable last names in NFL history as the son of Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith. After an injury-interrupted career split between Stanford and Texas A&M, he signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, where he will work under running backs coach DeMarco Murray, another former Dallas Cowboys great.
Path to the league
Born Emmitt James Smith IV in Dallas, Smith starred at Jesuit College Preparatory School, rushing for 902 yards as a senior and ranking as ESPN's No. 48 overall recruit in the 2020 class. He spent four seasons at Stanford before transferring to Texas A&M for his final two college years. He went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft and worked out for the Dallas Cowboys, his father's old team, before signing with Kansas City as an undrafted free agent.
Career highlights
Smith's best college stretch came early at Stanford, where a 2022 season opened with an 87-yard touchdown on his first carry of the year before a season-ending injury cut it short. He finished his six-year college career with 969 rushing yards and nine touchdowns across stops at Stanford and Texas A&M.
2025 season recap
In his final season at Texas A&M, Smith served in a complementary role, carrying 44 times for 205 yards and four touchdowns while adding four catches for 18 yards. The modest workload reflected a crowded Aggies backfield, and he entered the 2026 draft process as a longshot before signing with Kansas City.
Sources
- Wikipedia: E. J. Smith (American football)
- Bleacher Report: Emmitt Smith's Son E.J. Signs Chiefs UDFA Contract After Visiting Cowboys Before 2026 NFL Draft
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Running Back
- Group
- offense
- College
- Texas A&M
- Hometown
- Dallas, TX, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
