Final answer:
Emmitt Smith is the NFL's all-time career rushing leader, accumulating a total of 18,355 rushing yards throughout his career, which surpasses other legends like Walter Payton and Barry Sanders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The NFL's all-time career rushing leader is none other than Emmitt Smith. Smith, a former running back for the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals, leads the charts with a monumental 18,355 rushing yards over the course of his prolific career that spanned from 1990 to 2004. Throughout his time in the NFL, Emmitt Smith set a standard for durability and success, becoming a three-time Super Bowl champion and earning the MVP award in Super Bowl XXVIII.
His impressive rushing record surpasses the efforts of other NFL legends on the list such as Walter Payton, who sits in second place. Payton, also known as "Sweetness," had a remarkable career of his own with the Chicago Bears, amassing 16,726 yards before Emmitt Smith overtook him. Other greats like Barry Sanders and Jim Brown are also well behind Smith's mark, with Sanders at third with 15,269 yards and Brown in fifth with 12,312. Emmitt Smith's record is a testament to his consistent performance and his resilience over many seasons.