Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Herschel Walker
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Herschel Walker made an impact.
Herschel Walker is a former American football running back, renowned for winning the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award in 1982. He enjoyed a 15-year professional career in both the USFL and NFL. Beyond sports, Walker ventured into politics, becoming the Republican nominee in the 2022 United States Senate election in Georgia. Additionally, he was nominated to be the United States Ambassador to the Bahamas during President Donald Trump's (hypothetical) second term.
1976: High School Career Begins
In 1976, Herschel Walker began playing for the Johnson County Trojans high school football team.
1979: State Championship and Dial Award
In 1979, Herschel Walker rushed for 3,167 yards, leading the Johnson County Trojans to their first state championship. He also received the inaugural Dial Award as national high school scholar-athlete of the year.
1980: Freshman Season at University of Georgia
During his freshman season in 1980, Herschel Walker set the NCAA freshman rushing record and played a major role in helping Georgia win the de facto national championship.
1982: Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award Winner
In 1982, Herschel Walker won both the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award for his outstanding performance in college football.
1983: Signing with the New Jersey Generals
In 1983, Herschel Walker signed with the New Jersey Generals, owned by J. Walter Duncan, who later sold the team to Donald Trump.
1984: Rogers and Campbell Teaming
In 1984, George Rogers and Earl Campbell teamed with the New Orleans Saints.
1984: D'Lites Restaurant Franchise
In 1984, Herschel Walker franchised a D'Lites fast food restaurant in Athens, Georgia.
1985: USFL MVP and NFL Draft
In 1985, Herschel Walker was named the USFL's MVP during its final season and was drafted into the NFL by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round.
1985: Drafted into the NFL by the Cowboys
In 1985, the Dallas Cowboys selected Herschel Walker in the fifth round of the NFL draft.
1986: Signed by the Cowboys
In 1986, Herschel Walker was signed by the Dallas Cowboys and moved to fullback, creating tension due to limiting Tony Dorsett's playing time and his higher contract.
1987: Complaints to Cowboys Management
In 1987, Herschel Walker complained to Cowboys management about being moved between different positions and Dorsett having more carries, leading to Walker becoming the main running back and Dorsett demanding a trade.
1987: First Pro Bowl Appearance
In 1987, Herschel Walker made his first Pro Bowl appearance.
1988: Established NFL Running Back
In 1988, Herschel Walker established himself as an NFL running back, reaching career highs in rushing and receiving yards, and became the 10th player in NFL history to amass more than 2,000 combined rushing and receiving yards in a season.
1988: Second Pro Bowl Honor
In 1988, Herschel Walker received his second Pro Bowl honor as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
1989: Walker Attends FBI School
In 1989, Herschel Walker told the media that he "had fun" while attending an FBI school in Quantico for a week, speaking of an "obstacle course and you shoot at targets".
1989: Traded to Minnesota Vikings
In 1989, Herschel Walker was traded by the Cowboys to the Minnesota Vikings for five players and six future draft picks, leading to the Cowboys' dynasty in the 1990s.
1992: Signed by the Philadelphia Eagles
In 1992, Herschel Walker signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, rushing for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns.
1993: Season with the Philadelphia Eagles
In the 1993 season, Herschel Walker rushed for 746 yards and one touchdown, and was a significant part of the receiving game for the Philadelphia Eagles.
1994: Unique NFL Achievement
In 1994, Herschel Walker became the first NFL player to have one-play gains of 90 or more yards rushing, receiving and kick-returning in a single season.
1995: Joins the New York Giants
In 1995, Herschel Walker signed with the New York Giants as a third-down back, leading the team with 45 kick returns.
1996: Rejoins the Dallas Cowboys
In 1996, Herschel Walker rejoined the Dallas Cowboys as a kickoff return specialist and third-down back.
1997: Retires from Football
At the end of the 1997 season, Herschel Walker retired from professional football.
2002: Creation of Renaissance Man Food Services
In 2002, Herschel Walker created Renaissance Man Food Services, a company that distributes chicken products, and also founded Savannah-based H. Walker Enterprises.
2008: Company Profits
From 2008, Herschel Walker said that his company averaged about $1.5 million in annual profits.
2008: Publication of 'Breaking Free'
In 2008, Herschel Walker wrote and published the book Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder to help dispel myths about mental illness and to help others.
September 2009: Signing with Strikeforce
In September 2009, it was announced that Herschel Walker had been signed by MMA promotion company Strikeforce to compete in their heavyweight division.
October 2009: Training Camp for MMA
In October 2009, Herschel Walker began a 12-week training camp with trainer "Crazy" Bob Cook at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California.
January 30, 2010: MMA Debut
On January 30, 2010, Herschel Walker defeated Greg Nagy via technical knock-out in his MMA debut at Strikeforce: Miami.
January 29, 2011: Victory Against Scott Carson
On January 29, 2011, Herschel Walker defeated Scott Carson via TKO (strikes) at 3:13 of round 1 in Strikeforce.
2014: Walker Appears in Commercial Supporting Jack Kingston
In 2014, Herschel Walker appeared in a commercial paid for by the United States Chamber of Commerce supporting Jack Kingston's bid in the Republican primary election for the U.S. Senate election in Georgia.
2016: Walker Supports Donald Trump in 2016 Presidential Election
In 2016, Herschel Walker supported Donald Trump in the presidential election.
2017: Company Profits
From 2017, Herschel Walker said that his company averaged about $1.5 million in annual profits.
2018: Trump Appoints Walker to President's Council
In 2018, Donald Trump appointed Herschel Walker to the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
2018: Walker Endorses Brian Kemp in Georgia Gubernatorial Election
In 2018, Herschel Walker endorsed Republican Brian Kemp in the Georgia gubernatorial election.
2019: Appointment to President's Council on Sports
In 2019, Herschel Walker became a co-chair on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition under President Donald Trump.
December 17, 2020: Trump Reappoints Walker to President's Council
On December 17, 2020, Donald Trump reappointed Herschel Walker to another two-year term on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
2020: Walker Initially Questions Legitimacy of 2020 Election
After the 2020 election, Herschel Walker spread election fraud claims. Later, in the October 2022 debate with Warnock, Walker conceded that "President Biden won and Raphael Warnock won."
2020: Service on President's Council on Sports
In 2020, Herschel Walker continued to serve as a co-chair on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition under President Donald Trump.
August 2021: Walker Announces Run for Senate Seat
In August 2021, Herschel Walker announced his run for the Senate seat held by Democrat Raphael Warnock.
August 2021: Walker Registers to Vote in Georgia
In August 2021, as he was preparing to run for U.S. Senate, Herschel Walker registered to vote in Georgia, listing his residence as Buckhead, Georgia, a property owned by his wife.
October 2021: McConnell Endorses Walker
In October 2021, Herschel Walker was endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, signaling support from the Republican establishment.
January 2022: Walker Claims to Live in Texas
In January 2022, Herschel Walker stated "I live in Texas…" at a political campaign event, despite registering to vote in Georgia in August 2021.
March 2022: Walker Removed from President's Council
In March 2022, Herschel Walker was removed from the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition by President Biden after being asked to resign.
October 5, 2022: Walker's Campaign Fires Political Director
On October 5, 2022, Herschel Walker's campaign fired Taylor Crowe, his campaign political director, over suspicions that he leaked information to the media.
October 14, 2022: Walker and Warnock Face Off in Senate Debate
On October 14, 2022, Herschel Walker and Raphael Warnock participated in their only debate for the Senate election. Walker's demeanor was described as "aggressive," and he was admonished for using a prop. Reports indicated Walker avoided disaster and embarrassment in the debate.
November 8, 2022: Walker Loses Senate Runoff Election to Warnock
On November 8, 2022, after no candidate received a majority of the vote in the general election, Herschel Walker faced Raphael Warnock in a runoff election for the U.S. Senate seat and lost. Walker conceded the election that night.
November 2022: Walker Compares Warnock to Vampire in Campaign Speech
In a mid-November 2022 campaign speech, Herschel Walker compared Raphael Warnock to a vampire, referencing a film and urging faith in elected officials, also stating he wanted to be a werewolf.
2022: Lost Senate Election in Georgia
In 2022, Herschel Walker launched his first political campaign in Georgia's Senate election, which he lost to Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock.
2022: Republican Nominee in Georgia Senate Election
In 2022, Herschel Walker was the Republican nominee in the United States Senate election in Georgia.
December 17, 2024: Walker Named Presumptive Nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas
On December 17, 2024, Herschel Walker was named by President-elect Donald Trump as his presumptive nominee for the position of U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas.
December 18, 2024: Nomination for U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas
On December 18, 2024, President-elect Trump announced Herschel Walker as his nominee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas.
