No running back has ever gained more NFL yards than Emmitt Smith, and he did it in the one jersey every Cowboys fan can picture: No. 22, navy and silver, usually with his helmet off and a grin on. Smith was the engine of the 1990s Dallas dynasty, the back who turned a 1-15 team into a three-time Super Bowl champion, and he stayed in Dallas long enough to pass Walter Payton as the league's all-time leading rusher. An Emmitt Smith jersey is a piece of that decade. This guide covers every No. 22 style we carry, the difference between the Mitchell & Ness throwbacks and the modern releases, and how to pick the edition that matches how you wear it.
Why Emmitt Smith is still the standard at running back
Dallas drafted Smith 17th overall in 1990 out of Florida, and he won Offensive Rookie of the Year that season with 937 yards and 11 touchdowns. From there he put together 11 straight seasons of at least 1,000 rushing yards, a run that includes four rushing titles and the 1993 NFL MVP award. His best all-around year was 1995: 1,773 rushing yards, 25 touchdowns and a third Super Bowl ring.
The career numbers are the argument. Smith finished with 18,355 rushing yards and 164 rushing touchdowns, both all-time records, plus 515 catches and three Super Bowl titles with Dallas. He was named Super Bowl XXVIII MVP after running for 132 yards and two touchdowns against Buffalo, and he played through a separated shoulder in the 1993 season finale against the Giants, a game that decided home-field advantage for the Cowboys. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010, in his first year of eligibility, and he is in the Cowboys Ring of Honor.
What jersey did Emmitt Smith wear?
Emmitt Smith wore No. 22 for the Dallas Cowboys from 1990 through 2002, and he kept the number for his final two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals in 2003 and 2004. The No. 22 he is remembered in is the navy blue Cowboys home jersey worn during the Super Bowl run of the 1990s, with the silver helmet and the star on the shoulder. Every Emmitt Smith jersey on Rivalries Jersey is a stitched jersey with sewn numbers and a sewn nameplate for $69.95. The closest thing to what he actually wore is the Navy 1995 Mitchell & Ness Throwback, which reproduces the mid-1990s cut and trim. If you want a jersey that works as an everyday piece instead of a replica, the Black Elite Pro Line Gold Collection is the heavier, more display-friendly build, and the Arctic Camo Salute to Service release is the modern military tribute edition.
Every Emmitt Smith jersey style we carry
The No. 22 lineup leans on two things: 1990s throwbacks and modern black or Salute to Service editions. Every style is stitched and $69.95, and they all fit the same way, so this is a question of which era you want to represent.
| Version | Color | Detail | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 Mitchell & Ness Throwback | Navy | Replica of the last title season | Fans who want the 1990s home look |
| 1996 Mitchell & Ness Throwback | White | Road colorway from the Super Bowl XXX era | Collectors of the three-ring run |
| Elite Pro Line Gold Collection | Black | Heaviest build in the group, gold trim | Display pieces and collectors |
| 2016 Salute to Service | Black | Military tribute release | Salute to Service runs |
| Arctic Camo 2024 Salute to Service | Arctic camo | Newest STS colorway | Fans who want the current release |
| Green Color Salute to Service | Green | Alternate STS color and tank top option | Summer and sideline wear |
Which Emmitt Smith jersey should a Cowboys fan buy?
Start with the Navy 1995 Mitchell & Ness Throwback if you want the jersey that matches the dynasty: 1995 was Smith's best statistical season and the last of the three Super Bowl wins. If you are buying for a collection rather than for game day, the Black Elite Pro Line Gold Collection is the piece to frame, because the build is heavier and the gold trim sets it apart from the standard releases. The White 1996 Throwback is the one for fans who prefer a road jersey, and the Arctic Camo 2024 Salute to Service is the current-release pick for anyone who already owns the 1990s colors.
If you are putting together a 1990s Cowboys set, our Dak Prescott jersey guide covers the modern quarterback era and the CeeDee Lamb jersey guide handles the current offense. For defense, the Trevon Diggs jersey guide picks up where the Dallas secondary starts. Everything in this lineup lives in the Dallas Cowboys jerseys collection.
Fit and care for a stitched No. 22
The cut is a standard athletic fit, so order your normal size; size up only if you plan to layer a hoodie underneath. Mitchell & Ness throwbacks in this lineup follow the same sizing as the modern jerseys, which makes pairing easier if you already own a Cowboys jersey. Wash cold and inside out on a delicate cycle, hang to dry, and keep an iron off the numbers and nameplate. Heat is the enemy of stitched tackle twill, so skip the dryer and skip dry cleaning. Youth and women's sizes follow the same chart, so measure a jersey that fits today if you are between sizes.
What number did Emmitt Smith wear?
He wore No. 22 for the Dallas Cowboys from 1990 to 2002 and kept No. 22 with the Arizona Cardinals in 2003 and 2004.
Is the Emmitt Smith jersey stitched?
Yes. Every No. 22 style we carry is a stitched jersey with sewn numbers and a sewn nameplate.
Are the Emmitt Smith jerseys Mitchell & Ness?
Two styles are Mitchell & Ness throwbacks, the Navy 1995 and the White 1996. The Elite Pro Line Gold and Salute to Service editions are separate builds.
Does the Emmitt Smith jersey fit true to size?
Yes, in a standard athletic cut. Size up once if you want room for a hoodie underneath.
