Emmitt Smith’s post-playing career has kept him busy, but one of his business ventures is now drawing unwanted scrutiny.
Front Office Sports reported that Smith’s energy company, 4 13 Solutions, is being sued by Kituwah LLC, the investment and economic development arm of the Band of Cherokee. According to the report, Kituwah says it entered into a project with Smith and his business partner David Mosley and put in $2.5 million.
The problem, Kituwah claims, is that the money never came back. The loan is said to be two years old, and the Native American company says it has not received a single penny. With the payment overdue, Kituwah is seeking the original $2.5 million along with “interest, costs, expenses, and any additional damages to be determined at trial.”
The filings say the money was supposed to help fund a solar farm, but that project has not been started. Kituwah is also accusing Smith of running a scheme and says the funds were used to pay debt to another firm.
Smith, a Hall of Fame running back who spent most of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, has stayed active since retiring. He has worked as an analyst, won Dancing With the Stars, runs a commercial real estate firm and founded 4 13 Solutions.
On the field, Smith’s résumé remains one of the strongest in football history. The 17th overall pick in the 1990 NFL draft, he answered early doubts about his speed by rushing for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie.
He then became a staple of the Dallas offense, topping 1,000 rushing yards in 11 straight seasons. Smith led the NFL in rushing yards four times and in rushing touchdowns three times, finishing his Cowboys run with 17,162 rushing yards and 153 touchdowns, both franchise records.
Smith played his final two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and still produced in his last year, rushing for 937 yards and nine touchdowns at age 35. He remains the NFL’s all-time rushing leader with 18,355 yards and also holds the record for rushing touchdowns with 164.
In Other News...
Jakobi Meyers Is Closing In On Major NC State NFL History
Jakobi Meyers has spent seven seasons carving out a place in the NFL that few undrafted receivers ever reach, and the former NC State standout is now stacking up numbers that put him in rare company from both angles. Through 7 seasons, he has 468 catches for 5,427 yards and 23 touchdowns, production that already has him 20th all-time among undrafted players in receiving yards while also putting him near the top of the Wolfpacks NFL record books.
For NC State fans, the broader significance is easy to see: Meyers is no longer just a nice success story, but one of the programs most productive pass catchers at the pro level. With his recent performance keeping him on that trajectory, the next question is how high he can climb among former Wolfpack receivers and where he ultimately lands on the broader list of undrafted NFL wideouts. [Read more 🡒]
Jarkel Joiner Just Landed Another Shot To Keep His NBA Dream Alive
Jarkel Joiner is getting another crack at making an NBA impression, this time with a familiar in-state backdrop. The former NC State guard has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Charlotte Hornets, a move that keeps him in the league pipeline after previous stops in the NBA G League and Summer League with several organizations, including Atlanta and Toronto.
Charlotte cleared the roster spot by waiving guard Kyle Mangas in the corresponding move, and Joiner now heads into camp with a chance to turn another opportunity into something more lasting. For a player who has kept working his way through the pro ranks since leaving Raleigh, it is the sort of chance that can keep a dream alive a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
NC States NFL Pipeline Looks Better Than Some ACC Fans Realize
NC States professional footprint is bigger than it sometimes gets credit for, with 18 former players on NFL rosters right now. That total puts the Wolfpack tied for 28th nationally and fourth among ACC programs, a useful reminder that Raleigh has been sending more than a few players to Sundays even as the broader college football conversation often overlooks it.
The deeper look at the league map shows a steady spread of former Pack players across positions and teams, the kind of presence that speaks to more than just one star here or there. It also includes alumni who have already stacked up Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition, which only sharpens the case that NC States pipeline is not a fleeting talking point but a real part of its football identity. [Read more 🡒]