RIPPED Rivalry | Barry Sanders vs. Emmitt Smith

The Battle of the Best ‘Backs

Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith are the two best running backs from what may end up being the last era of rushing game primacy the game will ever see. To this day, Sanders remains perhaps the most electrifying player of all time with his unprecedented bag of tricks, unparalleled footwork, and ability to make tacklers miss. “He makes you miss so bad, you kind of look up in the stands and wonder if anybody’s looking at you,” said former Atlanta Falcons cornerback D.J. Johnson.

Smith’s insane durability, combined with world-class work ethic and balance, led to a bevy of NFL rushing records in both the regular season and playoffs. “The thing I admire most about Emmitt is the size of his heart. He just seems to have that passion to want to achieve, to want to win,” said fellow Hall-of-Famer Franco Harris. Let’s look at the tale of the tape between the best of their generation.

1989 Topps Traded Football #83T Barry Sanders Rookie Card 

1990 Topps Traded Football #27T Emmitt Smith Rookie Card

Rookie Seasons

Sanders was drafted third overall in the 1989 NFL draft after maybe the greatest season in college football history. He rushed for 2,628 yards at Oklahoma State in his final season, a record that still stands today. In the 1990 draft, questions of Smith’s size led to him dropping to 17th overall, but it was a twist of good fortune, as the Cowboys traded up to acquire the player who would do the heaviest lifting in Dallas’ dynasty.

Both prospects held up their end of the bargain in their first year, taking home the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and giving fans a taste of what was to come. Sanders was arguably the best running back in the league right from the get-go and only ceded the league rushing title to Christian Okoye when he declined the chance to go back into the Lions’ final game after Detroit had the game in hand.

1998 Topps Chrome Football Season’s Best #28 Barry Sanders

1996 Topps Chrome Football #108 Emmitt Smith Refractor 

Best Single Season

Emmitt Smith’s 1995/96 season was one of the greatest displays of durability the NFL had ever seen. Seeking a third straight Super Bowl title, the Cowboys leaned heavily on Smith, who had already logged over 365 carries in three of the previous four seasons. No matter, Smith took the rock 377 times and scored 25 rushing touchdowns, setting the all-time record. Add in his 62 receptions, and he totaled a remarkable 439 touches.

Barry Sanders shared the MVP with Brett Favre in 1997/98 while putting together perhaps the best single season in the history of the running back position. Amazingly, Sanders rushed for 2,053 after gaining only 53 yards in his first two games. He ripped off three 80+ yard touchdowns and seemed to make the impossible happen every time he stepped onto the field during a 14-game stretch in which he averaged 142.9 rushing yards per game.

1992 Topps Football 1000 Yard Club #2A Barry Sanders  

1993 Topps Football Black Gold #25 Emmitt Smith

Postseason Accomplishments

That Barry Sanders never played on any great teams is an unfortunate part of his storied career. He only appeared in six playoff games and logged only 386 yards. In their only playoff head-to-head Sanders out-dueled Smith, helping the Lions to a 38-6 victory. They would lose in the only NFC title game of Sanders’ career to the eventual champion Washington Redskins.

Smith’s postseason numbers are unparalleled. Winner of three Super Bowl titles and one Super Bowl MVP, the Cowboys legend holds the record for most playoff rushing yards, and most playoff touchdowns. During the four-year stretch in which Dallas won three rings, Smith played 11 games, posting 1,032 yards and 15 touchdowns.

1999 Topps Chrome Football #AE7 All-Etch Refractor Barry Sanders  

2003 Topps Pristine #14 Emmitt Smith Die-Cut Gold Refractor 1/150

Career Accomplishments

The numbers Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith compiled through their Hall of Fame careers are mind-boggling. Sanders’ 5.0 yards per carry trails only Jim Brown’s 5.2 for running backs with at least 1,500 carries. Emmitt Smith owns some of the game’s most treasured records. From 1989-1997 one or both of these stars made NFL first-team All-Pro. Combined, they captured eight straight rushing titles from 1990-1997.

2023 Topps Composite Football Resurgence Pink Shock #55 Barry Sanders

2023 Topps Composite Football Finest #171A Emmitt Smith /74

Legacies of Greatness

Former Cowboy Tony Dorsett said of Smith, “He’s passed the test of time. He’s been there year after year, playing at a high level and with a lot of consistency. He plays the game like it’s supposed to be played. He’s a pro’s pro.”

Former Steelers defensive line coach John Mitchell said of Sanders, “Don’t go looking for him.  Let him come to you.  If you go looking for him, you’ll find him – in the end zone.”

Given the way the NFL has evolved since Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith’s time, there’s every possibility that we may never see the sort of production and genius combined with longevity again. Whether it was Sanders getting you off your seat or Smith wearing his opponents down, these two made every Sunday worth watching.

2015 Topps Definitive Collection Football #DA-BSS Barry Sanders/Emmitt Smith Dual Auto

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