Emmitt Smith Reebok Sneakers Get Epic Panini Card Collaboration

Reebok has partnered with Panini on a sneaker and card collection for NFL legend Emmitt Smith.

Emmitt Smith's Reebok sneakers. / Reebok

Today, Reebok and sports card manufacturer Panini America announced their second footwear, apparel, and trading card collaboration as they hit the gridiron to honor NFL legend and longtime partner Emmitt Smith alongside Panini's iconic "Prizm" card brand.

Releasing globally on June 14 with a matching "Preseason" apparel capsule ($40-$80), the collection is championed by three "Prizm"-inspired iterations of historic Reebok turf training shoes, the "Preseason '94" and Emmitt Smith's signature "ES22".

The former Dallas Cowboys running back and Reebok joined forces for the first time in 1993. Throughout the 1990s, Smith appeared in Reebok advertisements showcasing the brand's bold "Preseason" line of turf shoes.

Smith's signature ES22 trainer arrived in 1996, bringing Reebok's imaginative performance design language to a completely new turf shoe built to match the athlete's world-class speed, strength, and agility. 

Emmitt Smith's Reebok sneakers. / Reebok

Nearly 15 years later, Smith would join the Panini America family when, in 2009, the historic sports card manufacturer struck a deal with professional football, including the league's teams and players (of past and present). Today, via the 'Reebok x Panini Prizm Preseason' collection, legends collide.

"Like Prizm in sports cards, Reebok's archive is jam-packed with products and stories that have made a significant impact on their industry," commented Jason Howarth, SVP of Marketing & Athlete Relations at Panini America.

"Emmitt Smith – who's been in the Panini and Reebok families for a longtime - is undeniably one of the biggest gamechangers in sports history. It's amazing to have access to his footwear catalogue, to be able to honor him through this collaboration, and to bring fans a product that showcases the best of the Panini and Reebok brands."

Across three 'Reebok x Panini Prizm Preseason' footwear styles, Reebok, Emmitt Smith, and Panini Prizm fans will appreciate special design elements like sharp Prizm logos, bold nods to infamous Prizm cards and parallels, and other 'easter eggs' all within the historic Reebok "Preseason" design language: 

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Preseason '94 Low "Purple Prizm" ($120): Available in adult and youth sizing, this nostalgic purple, white, and black, mixed-material adaptation of the low-cut '94 trainer nods Panini's beloved Purple Prizm parallel, featuring a premium leather upper, hairy suede toe overlay, a TPU Purple Prizm side stripe detail, and Prizm logos at the tongue and heel. 

Preseason '94 "Gold Prizm" ($140): Available in adult and youth sizing, this metallic gold build features a premium leather upper, TPU Gold Shimmer midfoot strap, ​a Prizm heel logo, Hexalite cushioning, and more, resulting in a bold take on the mid-90s turf training shoe that pays homage to Panini's coveted Gold Prizm and Gold Shimmer Prizm parallel cards, typically limited to 10 copies.

ES22  "Color Blast" ($200): Available in adult sizing, this bright white, patent leather, limited edition take on Emmitt Smith's signature Reebok ES22 training shoe from '96 gets Panini's rare "Color Blast" treatment via a multi-color speckled midsole and flecked laces, a "Color Blast" Vector logo badge on the medial and lateral sides, a custom Color Blast sock liner, and clear TPU Prizm and Vector lace webbing, all seated atop a Prizm and Reebok branded translucent outsole.

Commemorating the release, each Panini x Reebok ES22 "Color Blast" pair purchased will come with a limited-edition Panini x Reebok Prizm Emmitt Smith trading card. Including a base Prizm design with parallels and coveted Prizm inserts (like Brilliance, Manga, and Color Blast) of varying rarity, the set features beautiful imagery of Emmitt Smith from the '90s and 2000's.

In 2022, Reebok and Panini America came together for the first time in celebration of "Prizm" and basketball superstar and cultural icon Allen Iverson. Fans can count on Sports Illustrated for all their footwear news from the sports world and beyond.

Further Reading: Reebok is rolling out more of Emmitt Smith's signature sneakers.