As the heart and soul of the Dallas Cowboys for more than a decade, Emmitt Smith knows it all. Growing pains, heartbreaking defeats and most importantly, championship glory.

When Smith entered the NFL as a rookie in 1990, the Cowboys were a team in transition. Jerry Jones had only purchased the team one year earlier. Head coach Jimmy Johnson was only in his second year at the helm. Quarterback Troy Aikman, the No. 1 pick in 1989, was coming off a horrendous rookie year that saw him lose each of his 11 starts.

Drafting Smith 17th overall in 1990 was the final step necessary to help the Cowboys assemble a future NFC powerhouse. After finishing 7-9 in Smith’s rookie year, Dallas emerged as the NFL’s next great dynasty.

Led by the iconic “Triplets” of Smith, Aikman and star wide receiver Michael Irvin, the 1992 Cowboys reached the mountaintop with a 52-17 blowout win over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl in Super Bowl 27.

The Cowboys successfully defended the Lombardi Trophy in 1993.…