Adrian Peterson vs Emmitt Smith

Adrian Peterson

1of 3 lines

Emmitt Smith

2of 3 lines

Adrian Peterson and Emmitt Smith compared on their NFL careers: Adrian Peterson played 15 seasons, 2007 to 2021, Emmitt Smith 15 seasons, 1990 to 2004. Adrian Peterson has 14,918 rushing yards to Emmitt Smith's 18,355. Emmitt Smith won 3 titles.

Who has the better career numbers?

Emmitt Smith leads in 2 of the 3 lines, Adrian Peterson in 1. Bold marks the better figure; playing time — games, minutes, at-bats, innings — is not scored.

Adrian Peterson and Emmitt Smith career totals
184GP226
14,918YDS18,355, better
120TD164, better
4.6, betterAVG4.2

How do they compare in the playoffs?

Adrian Peterson and Emmitt Smith postseason
5GP17
412YDS1,586, better
5TD19, better
3.6AVG4.5, better

Where each stands all time

Adrian Peterson and Emmitt Smith all-time places
5th (14,918)Rushing yards1st (18,355), better
5th (120)Rushing touchdowns1st (164), better

Among the NFL players with a career line on file, regular season, counting stats only — the same lists the records pages run on.

Titles and awards

Adrian Peterson and Emmitt Smith titles and awards
—Championships3, better
—Offensive Rookie of the Year1, better
1MVP1
—Super Bowl MVP1, better
1, betterComeback Player of the Year—
1, betterOffensive Player of the Year—

Awards come from the league’s published winner lists; a championship counts a season played for the club that won it.

Season by season

Lined up by career year, not by calendar: each row is the players’ nth season.

Adrian Peterson and Emmitt Smith season by season
YDS: Yards gained through the air, on the ground or after a catch, whichever this table counts.TD: Touchdowns, worth six points before the extra point.AVG: Yards per attempt: per pass, per carry, per catch or per punt, whichever this table counts.YDS: Yards gained through the air, on the ground or after a catch, whichever this table counts.TD: Touchdowns, worth six points before the extra point.AVG: Yards per attempt: per pass, per carry, per catch or per punt, whichever this table counts.
1st20071,341, better12, better5.6, better1990937113.9
2nd20081,760, better104.8, better19911,56312, better4.3
3rd20091,383184.419921,713, better184.6, better
4th20101,29812, better4.619931,486, better95.3, better
5th2011970124.7, better19941,484, better21, better4.0
6th20122,097, better126.0, better19951,77325, better4.7
7th20131,266, better104.5, better19961,20412, better3.7
8th20147503.619971,074, better4, better4.1, better
9th20151,485, better114.5, better19981,33213, better4.2
10th20167201.919991,397, better11, better4.2, better
11th201752923.420001,203, better9, better4.1, better
12th20181,042, better7, better4.2, better20011,02133.9
13th201989854.3, better2002975, better53.8
14th2020604, better7, better3.9, better200325622.8
15th20219822.62004937, better9, better3.5, better