Chiefs brutally axe Cowboys legend’s son from roster just days before new NFL season

The NFL is a cruel business.

With just 53 spots on each of the 32 teams’ roster, competition for places is extremely high.

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For the Kansas City Chiefs, they are hoping to build a roster that is capable of once again contending for a Super Bowl after a subpar 2025 campaign which saw them miss out on the NFL playoffs entirely.

That means having to make some very tough decisions, with many players who spent time with the team over summer having now learned their fate.

One of those who was left disappointed was running back E.J. Smith, the 24-year-old undrafted rookie whose father is none other than Dallas Cowboys legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith.

Smith Sr had previously revealed that he would be rooting for the Chiefs because of his son.

“The Chiefs have reached injury settlements with Chris Oladokun, CJ Hanson, and EJ Smith. They have been waived from the injured reserve list,” Matt Derrick wrote on X.

Essentially, this means that instead of those players going onto the Chiefs’ reserve/injured list, their contracts are instead terminated.

This allows them to become free agents after the settlement period has passed.

For Smith, he was unable to really show what he could do due to an injury cutting his time with the team short, being axed just days before the Chiefs’ season opener against the Denver Broncos.

After having gone undrafted in 2026, he expressed his gratitude to the organization for being given the opportunity to showcase himself.

“I mean, shoot, y’all know who my dad is. He was a first-rounder, I’m an undrafted guy, so my path is already different from his,” Smith said in July.

“It was a long road to get here, but I’m very grateful for the opportunity. Just through all the obstacles that made me become the person who I am today in order to prepare me for this opportunity.”

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In his junior season at Stanford, Smith had rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns from just 30 carries in two outings before suffering an injury which ended his season.

Opting for a change of scenery, Smith transferred to Texas A&M in 2024 to see out the remainder of his collegiate eligibility, but was unable to replicate his production, recording 412 rushing yards and just four touchdowns from 98 carries in 24 games across two seasons.

“It’s been a great opportunity to be out here, playing for the Kansas City Chiefs. I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” Smith told reporters at the start of training camp in July.

“A lot of people didn’t think I’d be here today, just through the amount of injuries I’ve went through in college and everything of that nature.

“Just being out here, being able to practice with these guys and getting better every day is a blessing for sure.”

Unfortunately for Smith, the Chiefs’ running back room became crowded, with Super Bowl LIX MVP Kenneth Walker joining in free agency from the Seattle Seahawks, as well as the expected backups in Brashard Smith and rookie Emmett Jones.

Add to that, he also had more competition in fellow rookie Jadyn Ott.

Due to having fewer than four accrued seasons of NFL experience, Smith can sign with any other NFL team after the settlement period – i.e. when he recovers from injury – but cannot return to the Chiefs for at least three weeks.

Therefore, his dream to follow in his father’s footsteps and make it to the league is not over just yet.