Discover the defining moments in the early life of Herschel Walker. From birth to education, explore key events.
Herschel Walker is an American diplomat and former professional football player. Currently the United States ambassador-designate to the Bahamas since 2025, he is a member of the Republican Party. Walker was the Republican nominee in the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Georgia, but was unsuccessful. As a football player, Walker played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as a running back.
On March 3, 1962, Herschel Walker was born. He would later become a football player and politician.
In 1976, Herschel Walker started playing football for the Johnson County Trojans high school football team.
In 1979, during his senior year, Herschel Walker rushed for 3,167 yards, helping the Johnson County Trojans win their first state championship. He was also awarded the inaugural Dial Award as national high school scholar-athlete of the year.
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 with a victory over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
In 1982, Herschel Walker won the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award while playing for the University of Georgia.
In 1983, Herschel Walker married Cindy DeAngelis Grossman, whom he met in college. They later had a son, Christian.
In 1984, Herschel Walker franchised a D'Lites fast food restaurant in Athens, Georgia.
In 1989, Herschel Walker was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in what is regarded as one of the most lopsided trades in NFL history.
In 1991, according to his book, Herschel Walker wrote that one of his alters caused him to play Russian roulette because he saw "mortality as the ultimate challenge".
In 1992, Herschel Walker competed in the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France as a member of the United States' bobsleigh team, placing seventh in the two-man competition.
In 1992, Herschel Walker was a member of the United States' bobsleigh team at the Winter Olympics.
Herschel Walker retired at the end of the 1997 NFL season.
In 2001, Herschel Walker was formally diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID) after seeking professional help for being tempted to murder a man who was late in delivering a car to him.
After 19 years of marriage, Herschel Walker and Cindy DeAngelis Grossman divorced in 2002.
In 2002, Herschel Walker created Renaissance Man Food Services, which distributes chicken products, and founded Savannah-based H. Walker Enterprises as an umbrella company.
In November 2007, Herschel Walker appeared on the HDNet show Inside MMA, indicating he would take part in a mixed martial arts reality show.
In 2008, Herschel Walker released the book "Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder" to help dispel myths about mental illness and to help others. He also served as a spokesperson for a mental health treatment program for veterans.
In 2008, Walker claimed Renaissance Man Food Services had $70 million in annual sales.
In his 2008 autobiography, Herschel Walker wrote that he was the Beta Club president and class valedictorian at Johnson County High School.
In 2009, Herschel Walker was a contestant in the second season of the reality television show The Celebrity Apprentice.
In 2012, Julie Blanchard publicly stated that she was Herschel Walker's fiancée.
One of Walker's sons was born in 2012. The mother of the son said that Walker saw his son "maybe ... three times", with Walker's parenting contributions mostly being court-ordered child support and sporadic gifts.
In 2017, Walker claimed Renaissance Man Food Services had $70 million in annual sales.
Starting in 2017, Herschel Walker falsely claimed that he had graduated from the University of Georgia "in the top 1% of his class".
From 2019, Herschel Walker served as a co-chair on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
In 2019, Myka Dean, who had reported threats from Herschel Walker in 2012, passed away.
Until 2020, Herschel Walker served as a co-chair on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
In December 2021, Herschel Walker's Senate campaign website claimed he graduated as the valedictorian of the entire high school, but CNN found no evidence for this claim, leading to the claim being removed and amended.
In December 2021, Herschel Walker's Senate campaign website deleted assertions about his education after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution inquired about it, with Walker acknowledging he left the university prior to graduation.
In 2021, Herschel Walker married Julie Blanchard.
In 2022, Herschel Walker ran unsuccessfully as the Republican Party's nominee in the U.S. Senate election in Georgia.
In December 2024, Donald Trump announced his nomination of Herschel Walker to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Bahamas. He was confirmed by the Senate.
42 years after his initial enrollment, on December 16, 2024, Herschel Walker graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences degree in Housing Management and Policy.
As of June 2025, Herschel Walker's net worth is estimated to be between $32.1 million and $80.5 million, based on his financial asset disclosure.
In 2025, Herschel Walker is expected to become the United States ambassador-designate to the Bahamas.
 
    Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Fox News Channel FNC is a conservative American news and...
 
    Addison Mitchell McConnell III is a prominent American politician and...
California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...
 
    Lindsey Graham is a prominent American politician and attorney currently...
 
    Joe Biden is an American politician who served as the...
4 months ago Prince William Celebrates 43rd Birthday with New Puppy Photos Shared by Kate Middleton
1 day ago Elex Michaelson's 'The Story Is' Premieres on CNN, Offering Fresh Nighttime News Perspective.
 
    Dana Ruth Bash is a prominent American journalist and news anchor She is recognized for her roles at CNN where...
 
    5 months ago Sofia Vergara Stuns in Topless Bikini: Instagram Sensation and Heidi Klum's Invitation
 
    4 months ago Emma Stone stars in 'Bugonia,' a sci-fi satire directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.
 
    9 days ago Shaq Appreciates Allen Iverson's Tearful Expression of Friendship, Calling Him 'Real'
 
    Gavin Newsom is an American politician and businessman currently serving...
 
    The White House located at Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington...
 
    Doug Ford is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving...
 
    XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...
 
    George Soros is a Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist with a...
 
    Chuck Schumer is the senior United States Senator from New...