Greatest Ever NFL MVPs: 1993 Emmitt Smith was a lightning bolt on two legs

1993 NFL MVP Emmitt Smith led the league in rushing yards with 1,486. He was awarded the NFL MVP award at the end of the season, despite missing training camp and the first two games during a holdout.

Dallas would lose both of those games, forcing owner Jerry Jones to make Smith the highest-paid running back in the league. The back then led the Dallas Cowboys to a 12-4 (12-2 in the games he played) regular season record and a spot in the playoffs.

One of Smith's most memorable games of the season came in Week 9 when the Cowboys faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles. In that game, Smith rushed for 237 yards and a touchdown, leading the Cowboys to a 23-10 victory. He would rush for 117 yards and two touchdowns the following week against the New York Giants.

Another memorable game for Smith came in Week 17 when the Cowboys faced off against the Washington Redskins. In that game, Smith rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown, leading the Cowboys to a 38-3 victory.

A third iconic game for Smith came in the NFC Championship game. The Cowboys faced off against the San Francisco 49ers. Smith rushed for 173 total yards and two touchdowns, leading the Cowboys to a 38-21 victory and securing a spot in Super Bowl XXVIII.

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1993 NFL MVP Emmitt Smith: A centerpiece in the Cowboys dynasty

Overall, Smith's 1993 NFL MVP season was one of the most impressive in NFL history. He rushed for 1,486 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He also caught 57 passes for 414 yards and a touchdown.

He was instrumental in the Cowboys' Super Bowl victory, having been named the Super Bowl XXVIII MVP. He became the first running back to win both the regular season MVP and the Super Bowl MVP in the same year. Smith had better statistical seasons, but the holdout proved he was the true MVP on the Cowboys' team.