Herschel Walker

  • 2 times; Pro Bowl selection (1987, 1988)
  • 2 times; USFL All-Star (1983, 1985)
  • 2 times; Most overflowed yards in the USFL (1983, 1985)
  • 1982 Heisman Trophy
  • USFL All- Time Team

Herschel Junior Walker ( born March 3, 1962 in Wrightsville, Georgia ) is a former American football player in the position of running backs. Walker played in the United States Football League ( USFL ) for the New Jersey Generals and in the National Football League ( NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and the New York Giants.

Childhood and high school

Walker was born as one of seven children of Willis and Christine Walker. He played for the Johnson County High School Trojans in Wright Ville 1975 until 1979. 1979 he ran 3167 yards, which earned the Trojans their only state championship.

College

Herschel Walker played for the University of Georgia, where in 1982 he won the Heisman Trophy for the best college players. In his first season ( 1980) as " freshman " made ​​Walker 's attention. He latched on to a new NCAA freshman record and was third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. The Georgia Bulldogs finished the season undefeated and won the college championship with a victory in the Sugar Bowl over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In 1999, Walker was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Professional

United States Football League

In the United States Football League ( USFL ) newly established Walker saw the opportunity already to start a professional career after his junior year - something that at the time in the NFL until after the senior year ( four years after high school graduation ) was possible. Furthermore, it was worthwhile for him to be able to choose where he played. Walker promised them the possibility of advertising in addition to earn a lot of money. Walker then signed in 1983 a contract with the New Jersey Generals, who were in possession of J. Walter Duncan. After the season, he sold the team to Donald Trump.

In the years 1983 and 1985 Walker erlief each most yards in the league - the second time he came here more than 4,000 total yards. In his USFL career, he managed a total of 5,562 yards in 1143 trials, with an average of 4.87 yards per run.

National Football League

The Dallas Cowboys suspected of the National Football League, the USFL would not continue to exist and secured Walkers rights, in which they selected him in the fifth round of the NFL Draft 1985. After the USFL in 1986 the operation of gambling ceased, Walker played from now on for the Cowboys in the NFL. In 1987 and 1988 he was elected there in the Pro Bowl. At the height of his NFL career (1989 ), excitatory exchange exchanged the Cowboys walker in a stir to the Minnesota Vikings for five players ( linebacker Jesse Solomon, defensive back Issiac Holt, running back Darrin Nelson, linebacker David Howard and defensive end Alex Stewart ) and six draft picks. The draft picks were - after a few more trades with other teams: running back Emmitt Smith, defensive tackle Russell Maryland, cornerback Kevin Smith, and Darren Woodson Safety. This trade was the foundation of the Dallas Cowboys success in the 1990s and is considered to be very bad for the Vikings, as the player draftete the Dallas largely supporting Stützden of the team were that subsequently won three Super Bowls. In addition, Walker was not nearly as successful as in previous years with the Vikings. He played two and a half years for the Vikings and never managed 1,000 yards in a season. After that time with the Vikings, he then moved even to the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants. According to the Giants, he played even once for the Cowboys, where he was employed as a running back, but also as a wide receiver.

In twelve years NFL Walker reached 8225 rushing yards, 4859 receiving yards and 5084 yards return, for a total of 18,168 yards. At the time of his career end so he was second in NFL history, even though he played the first three years in the USFL. He also scored 84 touchdowns: 61 in the running game, 21 as a pass catcher and two on kickoff returns. Walker is the only player who scored more than 4,000 yards in all three individual areas. He is one of only six players who scored more than 60 touchdowns in the running game and started 20 as a pass receiver ( Jim Brown, Lenny Moore, Marcus Allen, Marshall Faulk, and Thurman Thomas are the others). In 1994, Walker managed a special NFL record. He had a run over 90 yards, a pass -catching over 90 yards and a kickoff return over 90 yards in the same season - which he is the only player to ever reached. Despite all records and outstanding achievements Walker never played in a championship team.

Private / other sports

Herschel Walker married in 1983 his college girlfriend Cindy DeAngelis Grossman. After 18 years of marriage they divorced in 2001. Walker has a black belt in Taekwondo and almost abolished the Olympic participation as a relay runner. At the Olympic Winter Games in Albertville in 1992, Walker reached in the two- to seventh place ( in this race managed Christoph Langen his first major success with the bronze medal ). The 100-meter ran Walker back in 10.22 seconds, 100 yards in 9.3 seconds.

Runningback Georgia (U.S. state) 1996 NFL season University of Notre Dame College Football Hall of Fame Kickoff (gridiron football) Winter Olympic Games
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