IRVING, Texas -- Emmitt Smith has agreed to give the Pro Football Hall of Fame either the jersey or helmet he wears when he becomes the NFL career rushing leader.

The Canton, Ohio-based museum released a statement Wednesday saying Smith's representatives at AMG have agreed to the donation. Specifics on when and how the presentation will be made haven't been determined.

Of course, Smith must first top Walter Payton's career record of 16,726 yards. He's 93 away going into the Dallas Cowboys' game Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

"We are pleased that Emmitt Smith has agreed to provide the Pro Football Hall of Fame with game artifacts from his career milestone game,'' Hall of Fame executive director John Bankert said. "The Hall of Fame is proud to be able to serve as a showcase that will forever link Emmitt with the great players and moments of pro football's past.''

If anyone is aware of the value and interest in Smith memorabilia, it's Smith himself.

He's taken home the football from all 160 touchdowns he's scored and estimates he still has all but five, which he gave away for various sentimental reasons. He recently put microchips in all the balls to authenticate them. Although he once owned a sports collectibles store in his hometown, Pensacola, Fla., Smith has talked about auctioning them off for charity.

The Hall has talked to Smith's representatives about possibly putting together a traveling exhibit of Smith's personal collection. It would be part of a tour being organized by AMG.

"Emmitt and his people are very definitely aware of our interest in marking the game, and they're interested in being part of history here,'' said Joe Horrigan, the Hall's vice president of communications and exhibits.

When Payton broke the record held by Jim Brown, on Oct. 7, 1984, the Hall's executive director was at Soldier Field to present him with the game ball.

Payton later donated his entire uniform to the Hall and it remains on display in an area celebrating the first 100 years of pro football, which runs through 1991.

Smith's memento would likely go in the Pro Football Today section, which picks up where the other left off. A temporary tribute would go up until the helmet or jersey arrive.

"Ordinarily, as soon as we have something to recognize a milestone event, we try to get something up to let people who visit the Hall know we're on top of things,'' Horrigan said.

Horrigan said Smith will be honored in a fashion befitting the accomplishment.

"For something of this magnitude, we'll probably want to do something on a grand scale,'' he said.

Other items the Hall has received commemorating events from this season include the ball Drew Bledsoe threw for his 30,000th career yard and a ball from a Sept. 29 game in which Oakland Raiders Jerry Rice, Tim Brown and Rod Woodson all set personal milestones.

Rice passed Payton for the most career yards from scrimmage, Brown moved into third place on the career receptions list and Woodson had three interceptions to become the career leader in interception return yardage.