NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl MVP Emmitt Smith dove headlong into the real estate game back in 2004. Since then, he has started his own brokerage, a lending firm, a construction company and built a portfolio of office and multifamily assets. And in a recent interview, he talks deals and explains why he is the real deal.

“The best deal I ever made was through my partnership with ESmith Legacy — we built and sold about a thousand multifamily units up in the Baltimore area,” Smith told Bisnow.

Smith added: “I feel like one that we missed out on was one up in Harlem on 125th and Lennox. It was a pretty sizable deal, and when I say sizable I mean where the land itself was being valued north of $50M, and the property itself had the potential to be a $250M deal or more.”

Smith went on to explain that because of his previous career, people sometimes assume he is just a figurehead who doesn’t actually run the show.

“I had a guy come in earlier this week. He complimented me on my book, but he was like, ‘Is this the real deal?’ Yes, I am the real deal! I do come into the office! I do go on meetings! I do understand what’s going on within our platform, or what we’re developing and what we have developed. Yes, I do have multiple companies, but I spend a ton of time with every last one of my companies. I’m more than just a former athlete or a ‘Dancing With The Stars’ guy. The sky is not the limit for any athlete or any person, so why would I put any limits on myself?” [Bisnow] –Christopher Cameron

Source: Emmitt Smith’s best deal