In a twist of NFL fate that connects the past and present, the son of a Cowboys legend is trading the star for the arrowhead. EJ Smith, the son of Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith, has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, marking the start of his professional journey in a familiar shade of red.

While Emmitt Smith famously closed out his storied career wearing Arizona Cardinals red, his son will now look to make his own mark in the Chiefs' iconic crimson. The move comes as a surprise to some, given that the Dallas Cowboys hosted EJ for a local prospect visit during the pre-draft process. But when the seven rounds of the draft came and went without his name being called, the younger Smith found a new home with the reigning AFC powerhouses.

EJ Smith's path to the NFL has been anything but straightforward. After spending four seasons at Stanford, he transferred to Texas A&M for the 2024 season, where he tallied just over 200 rushing yards in each of his last four college campaigns. Ranked as the 45th running back in Dane Brugler's draft guide "The Beast," Smith didn't generate enough buzz to hear his name called over the weekend.

Of course, following in the footsteps of one of the greatest running backs in NFL history is no small task. Emmitt Smith was a first-round pick for the Cowboys in 1990, became the starter by Week 2, and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. His career reads like a football fairy tale: eight Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pro selections, four rushing titles, the 1993 MVP award, three Super Bowl rings, and Super Bowl XXVIII MVP honors. He's enshrined in the Cowboys Ring of Honor, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and holds the NFL's all-time records for rushing attempts, touchdowns, and yards.

But while Emmitt Smith's legacy is etched in Cowboys blue and silver, his son now has a chance to carve out his own identity in Chiefs red. The path will be steeper—undrafted free agents face long odds to make a roster—but the opportunity to learn from a championship organization like Kansas City is invaluable. For EJ Smith, the journey is just beginning, and the color red has never looked more promising.