After an impressive playing career, Emmitt Smith has followed the Dallas Cowboys and other NFL teams closely. Would he ever consider taking on a general manager role?
The Cowboys legend recently joined 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM), where he broke down how he would make Dallas a contender if he were the team’s GM. Smith used some of his personal experience in Dallas for the scenario.
“I’m already inheriting five Super Bowls. I’m also inheriting a star-studded organization. I’m also inheriting a championship organization. I also know what it took with Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson,” Smith said. “I know what Jimmy Johnson and Jerry [Jones] did when he bought the team. So, I know the history and I know what the vision should look like for the organization, and that vision is not going to change.”
According to Smith, that championship vision was clear when he was drafted by the Cowboys. He would follow a similar approach to the franchise’s past championship teams, and he would want his players solely focused on winning.
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Smith said he would want players with Hall of Fame aspirations.
“If you don’t have goals and aspirations that line up with the vision of this organization and where we’re going, you won’t be on the team. You won’t be on the draft board, you won’t be nothing,” Smith said.
Smith then compared several organizations with winning cultures to make his point. His list included the Patriots, Steelers, Cowboys, 49ers and Chiefs.
Smith said a championship environment is built by maintaining a consistent chemistry in the locker room.
“If the Cowboys don’t understand that, they’ll never get back to the Super Bowl,” Smith said. “I hate to say it. You just don’t mess with chemistry. It’s very delicate. It’s like putting too much salt into something.”
Listen to the rest of Smith’s radio appearance here.
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