E.J. Smith, son of NFL legend Emmitt Smith, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. He shared the moment he received the call via an Instagram video.
Key points
E.J. Smith signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent
He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft
E.J. is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith
He shared the signing moment on Instagram
The draft occurred from April 23 to April 25, 2026
Mentioned in this story
E.J. SmithEmmitt SmithKansas City Chiefs
E.J. Smith and dad, NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith.Credit: emmittsmith22/Instagram
E.J. Smith and dad, NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith.
Credit: emmittsmith22/Instagram
NEED TO KNOW
E.J. Smith signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent on Saturday, April 25 after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft
The 23-year-old son of NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith shared the moment he received the call in an Instagram video
The 2026 NFL Draft kicked off on Thursday, April 23 and officially closed on Saturday, April 25
E.J. Smith is entering The Kingdom.
The 23-year-old son of NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and his wife, Patty Smith, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent on Saturday, April 25, the same day the 2026 NFL Draft came to a close with the seventh and final round.
E.J., a running back who played for the Texas A&M Aggies and Stanford Cardinals, shared the exciting news in a post on Instagram. He even shared a clip of the moment he received the call from the four-time Super Bowl-winning team.
E.J. Smith playing for Texas A&G Aggies in November 2025.Credit: Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire/Getty
Q&A
Why did E.J. Smith go undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The specific reasons for E.J. Smith going undrafted have not been detailed, but it is common for many talented players to not be selected.
What team did E.J. Smith sign with after the NFL Draft?
E.J. Smith signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent.
Who is E.J. Smith's father and what is his significance?
E.J. Smith's father is Emmitt Smith, a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.
When did the 2026 NFL Draft take place?
The 2026 NFL Draft took place from April 23 to April 25, 2026.
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E.J. Smith playing for Texas A&G Aggies in November 2025.
Credit: Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire/Getty
"Excited to officially sign with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent. Nothing is given—everything is earned. I’m ready to work, learn, and prove myself every single day," E.J. captioned the Instagram clip on Saturday.
"Thank you to my family, coaches, teammates, and everyone who believed in me and pushed me to this moment. The journey hasn’t been easy, but every challenge prepared me for this next step," he continued. "Grateful is an understatement. All glory to God for this opportunity."
The running back concluded with: "Let’s get it Chiefs Kingdom."
The video captured a smiling talking on speakerphone with Chiefs management.
"Celebrate with the family, you're a Chief," the person on the phone can be heard saying. To which E.J. replied, "I appreciate it, thank you."
"I'm ready to go. I appreciate you, coach!" E.J. can be heard saying in another phone call, presumably with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.
Emmitt Smith and his son Emmitt IV in February 2023.Credit: Emmitt Smith/Instagram
Emmitt Smith and his son Emmitt IV in February 2023.
Credit: Emmitt Smith/Instagram
The comment section of E.J.'s Instagram post was filled with congratulatory messages. His sister, Skylar Smith, penned a sweet note to her brother.
"Ready to wear my red and gold hehe❤️💛," Skylar wrote, referencing the Chiefs' colors.
His mom, Patty, shared the clip on her respective Instagram, along with a heartfelt caption.
"These are the moments that make a Momma want to run around the church 10X shouting HALLELUJAH!!!! THANK YOU LORD!!!!🙏🏽🙌🏽👏🏽🏃🏾♀️🤗😊 @therealejsmith @chiefs," she wrote.
E.J. is continuing in the football footsteps of his dad, Emmitt. The Hall of Fame running back, 56, played in the NFL for 15 seasons, won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys and broke several records before retiring in 2004. (He even took home the coveted "Mirror Ball Trophy" after winning Dancing With the Stars in season 2)!
The 2026 NFL Draft kicked off with Round 1 on Thursday, April 23 and concluded on Saturday, April 25.
PEOPLE caught up with the rookies on the red carpet before the start of the NFL draft in Pittsburgh, the host city that broke the draft's all-time attendance record this year with 805,000 fans over the course the event's three days.
