Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith's son E.J. has found a home in the NFL, but it's not with the Dallas Cowboys. E.J. announced on Saturday, April 25, that he will be signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Excited to officially sign with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent,” E.J. wrote in an Instagram post, along with a video showing the NFL legend's son on the phone with the Chiefs. “Nothing is given — everything is earned. I'm ready to work, learn, and prove myself every single day.”
E.J. seems to be writing his own path rather than following in the footsteps of his father, the NFL's all-time leading rusher who spent 13 seasons playing for the Cowboys. “Thank you to my family, coaches, teammates, and everyone who believed in me and pushed me to this moment,” E.J. continued. “The journey hasn't been easy, but every challenge prepared me for this next step.”
E.J. finished his sixth season of college football before declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons at Stanford before playing the final two years of his college career at Texas A&M. Before the draft, Emmitt spoke of his son forging his own path and told him to “put your blinders on” and “just play the game.”
“Here's the thing — you gotta run your race, and you gotta disregard what other people are saying,” Emmitt told Fox News. “Because you have whatever ability you have, you have to be yourself. … Just go play the game. Put your blinders on. Run your race.” He added, “Stay the course, disregard all the noise out there.”