Emmitt Smith, who earned a spot in the Hall of Fame as a Cowboy from 1990 to 2001 by winning three Super Bowls, is the most recent Dallas Cowboys alumnus to voice disapproval of the decisions made by owner Jerry Jones for 2025. After failing to reach a long-term agreement with Mike McCarthy, Jones chose former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to be the team’s next head coach. Smith said, “we will see where it goes” in reference to Schottenheimer’s rise.
Smith told Sports Lens, “I am just taking it all in right now, but I am going to save most of my comments until later.” “What has transpired and attempting to determine our next course of action and its appearance. I am not even sure who he has on his staff yet—who he hired, who he fired, and who he kept on board.” Michael Irvin, another Cowboys great, reportedly said that Smith thought Jones’s choice to pass on Deion Sanders for the position was “disappointing.” Jones reached out to Sanders, who has revamped the Colorado Buffaloes over the last two seasons, regarding the role, but he was never given the opportunity to interview.
Smith goes on to remark, “It is sort of unfortunate because from an opportunity sense, he was not regarded high enough to accomplish it.” “But as I mentioned before, certain things have to work themselves out.” Smith adds, “I know Deion has done a wonderful job in Colorado with limited resources, and unfortunately for some African-American coaches, we always start off with minimal resources and do the best we can with it.” “In my opinion, Deion is unquestionably demonstrating his ability to lead and assemble a team in a pinch. He has accomplished this at Colorado and Jackson State, and he is enlisting Hall of Fame players to support him. The game itself has undergone significant transformation, and I believe Deion has a method of relating to both younger and existing players.”
Smith advocates a defensive attitude over an offensive one, believing that the Cowboys need more “balance” and less “flash” on their team. “I believe that the Cowboys require a coach with a defensive mindset. “I truly do,” Smith remarked. Smith says, “I believe the team has lost sight of what has really made it great, which is throwing the football and running the football, being a well-balanced offensive unit.” “I believe we are too preoccupied with chasing after this fad of looking for the next Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, or someone like. They are once-in-a-generation talent, those men. The work that Jayden (Daniels) is doing with the Washington Commanders is excellent.
Smith’s 18,355 total yards make him the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. He was named the NFL MVP in 1993 and the Super Bowl MVP in 1994.
