NFL Legend Emmitt Smith's Draft Advice for Son EJ

The question came from a high schooler feeling the weight of a legendary name. EJ Smith, son of NFL all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, asked his dad how to handle everyone's sky-high expectations.

The Hall of Famer's response cut through the noise with startling simplicity. He asked EJ what others expected, then what EJ expected for himself, and when the answers matched, delivered the truth: "Where's the pressure?"

"You gotta run your race, and you gotta disregard what other people are saying," Emmitt told Fox News Digital. "You have to be yourself and work at being yourself and work at what you need to do to hone your craft."

The elder Smith painted a vivid picture for his son. Put on blinders like horses at the Kentucky Derby, focus on your own lane, and when those blinders come off, you might find yourself somewhere incredible.

That advice carried EJ through his college career at Texas A&M, where he played primarily as a backup running back. Earlier this month, he worked out for his father's former team, the Dallas Cowboys, ahead of the upcoming NFL draft.

Why This Inspires

Beyond football, Emmitt's parenting philosophy reveals what truly matters. He and EJ talk about "everything under the sun," with fatherhood topping his list of life roles above even his legendary career.

That commitment to family drove Smith to join Narcan's "Ready to Rescue" initiative addressing the opioid crisis. His sister-in-law faced overdose episodes during cancer treatment, former teammates battled opioid addiction, and friends lost children to the epidemic.

"Anybody is subject to get caught up in something at any point in time anywhere, and not even realize it," Smith explained, emphasizing the importance of having Narcan nasal spray accessible when someone needs help.

As draft day approaches, Emmitt offered EJ one more piece of wisdom about handling the wait. "Go play golf, go hang out, don't even look at the damn TV," he said. "Let your agent call you."

Whether EJ hears his name called or not, he's already won the most important draft: a father who taught him that meeting your own expectations matters more than living up to anyone else's legend.