Today in Performance Sneaker History: Emmitt Smith Wins SuperBowl XXVIII MVP in Reebok

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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It remains to be seen which team will walk out of this Sunday's game with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, but on this day in 1994, it was the Dallas Cowboys facing off against the Buffalo Bills in a rematch of the previous year's Super Bowl. In the 1993 match up, Dallas absolutely dominated the Thurman Thomas-led Bills with a final score of 52-17. The following year's return match would be more closely contested, with the Cowboys marching to a 30-13 victory.

Perhaps most impressive was running back Emmitt Smith's MVP-earning performance. He had suffered a nasty shoulder injury during the season and was still recovering, but managed to power through with a whopping 132 yards. With that total, he became only the second player to ever put up 100+ rushing yards in consecutive Super Bowls. Two game-changing touchdowns cemented his MVP recognition, capping off a truly impressive season.

During this time, Emmitt was a proud endorser of Reebok's football line. In 1994's big game, he wore a Player Edition cleat form of the Reebok Pump. Unfortunately, this vintage style has yet to be re-released and therefore is difficult to track down these days. The good news is that Reebok just dipped into their vaults and recently dropped a retro of Smith's 1997 on-field sneaker, the ES22. Although the style is well over a decade old, it still remains a suitable trainer for your gym and turf needs. You can pick them up today from retailers like Foot Locker for $140.

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