History of Herschel Walker in Timeline

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.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

March 3, 1962: Herschel Walker's Birth

On March 3, 1962, Herschel Walker was born. He is an American former football running back, businessman, and political figure.

Others born on this day/year

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: Marriage to Cindy DeAngelis Grossman

In 1983, Herschel Walker married Cindy DeAngelis Grossman, whom he had met in college. This marked the beginning of their marriage.

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.

1991: Russian Roulette Incident

In 1991, Herschel Walker wrote about a competitive alter caused him to play Russian roulette, seeing "mortality as the ultimate challenge".

1992: Winter Olympics Bobsleigh Competition

In 1992, Herschel Walker competed in the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France as a member of the United States' bobsleigh team, finishing seventh in the two-man competition.

1992: Signed by the Philadelphia Eagles

In 1992, Herschel Walker signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, rushing for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns.

1993: Second Woman Alleges Pressure from Walker to Get Abortion

In 1993, Herschel Walker allegedly pressured a second woman to get an abortion after a years-long extramarital relationship. Walker denied the allegation.

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.

1999: Election to College Football Hall of Fame

In 1999, Herschel Walker was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

September 2001: Police Called to Grossman's Home

In September 2001, police were called to Cindy Grossman's home due to Herschel Walker's volatile behavior, with reports indicating Walker was armed and scaring Grossman. A therapist defused the situation, and police confiscated a handgun from Walker's car.

December 2001: Grossman Accuses Walker of Abuse

In December 2001, during the divorce filing, Cindy Grossman accused Herschel Walker of "physically abusive and extremely threatening behavior."

2001: Diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder

In 2001, Herschel Walker was formally diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID) after seeking professional help for being tempted to murder a man.

2001: Confrontation and Threats

Sometime around 2001, Herschel Walker had a "confrontation" with Cindy Grossman's friend, which was followed by Walker calling her to threaten her and "having her house watched".

May 2002: Police Report by Grossman's Friend

In May 2002, while receiving treatment for dissociative identity disorder, Herschel Walker was the subject of a police report made by a friend of his ex-wife, Cindy Grossman, who stated that he followed her home and she was "very frightened" of Walker.

2002: Divorce from Cindy DeAngelis Grossman

After 19 years of marriage, Herschel Walker and Cindy DeAngelis Grossman divorced in 2002, ending their long-term relationship.

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.

2005: Alleged Violence Against Cheryl Parsa

In 2005, Cheryl Parsa alleged that Herschel Walker became physically violent towards her, grabbing her neck and chest, and swinging a fist at her after she found him with another woman.

2005: Restraining Order Imposed

In 2005, a restraining order was imposed on Herschel Walker regarding Cindy Grossman, after a threat was made against her life. This resulted in a temporary gun-owning ban for Walker.

November 2007: Inside MMA Appearance

In November 2007, Herschel Walker appeared on the HDNet show Inside MMA and indicated he would participate in a mixed martial arts reality show.

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.

2008: Autobiography Release

In his 2008 autobiography, Herschel Walker wrote that he was the Beta Club president and class valedictorian at Johnson County High School.

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.

2009: Allegation of Walker Paying for Abortion Surfaces

In 2009, Herschel Walker allegedly paid for a woman's abortion. The woman provided evidence to support the allegation, which Walker denied.

2009: Employee Count Claim

In 2009, Herschel Walker claimed that Renaissance Man Food Services had over 100 employees.

2009: The Celebrity Apprentice Contestant

In 2009, Herschel Walker was a contestant in the second season of the reality television show The Celebrity Apprentice.

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.

2011: Walker Allegedly Advised Woman to Have Second Abortion

In 2011, Herschel Walker allegedly advised a woman to have a second abortion, leading to the end of their relationship.

January 2012: Threat Allegations by Myka Dean

In January 2012, Myka Dean reported to police that Herschel Walker threatened her when she attempted to end their relationship. She stated that he threatened to "blow her head off".

2012: Walker and Woman Have Son

Family court records confirm that Herschel Walker and the woman had a son who was born in 2012.

2012: Engagement to Julie Blanchard

In 2012, Julie Blanchard publicly stated that she was Herschel Walker's fiancée, marking the beginning of their public relationship.

2012: Son Born

In 2012, another of Walker's sons was born. The mother of the son claimed that Walker had seen his son 'maybe... three times', with Walker's parenting contributions mostly being court-ordered child support and sporadic gifts.

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.

2014: Celebrity Cook-Off Winner

In 2014, Herschel Walker won season 3 of Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.

2016: Walker Supports Donald Trump in 2016 Presidential Election

In 2016, Herschel Walker supported Donald Trump in the presidential election.

July 4, 2017: Herschel Walker Drive Dedication

On July 4, 2017, Trojan Way, the street where Johnson County High School resides, was officially renamed Herschel Walker Drive during Wrightsville's annual Fourth of July celebration and parade.

2017: Company Profits

From 2017, Herschel Walker said that his company averaged about $1.5 million in annual profits.

2017: False Graduation Claims Begin

Starting in 2017, Herschel Walker began making the false claim that he had graduated from the University of Georgia "in the top 1% of his class".

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: Company Ownership Claims

In 2018, Herschel Walker acknowledged that Renaissance Man Food Services did not own any chicken processing plants and instead partnered with plant owners to sell branded chicken products.

2018: Employee Count Claim

In 2018, Herschel Walker claimed that Renaissance Man Food Services had "over 600 employees."

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.

2019: Walker Claims to Have Spent Time at Quantico at FBI Training School

In 2019, Herschel Walker said he "spent time at Quantico at the FBI training school" and was "an agent" when, in reality, Walker lacked the bachelor's degree required for FBI training.

2019: Death of Myka Dean

Myka Dean, who had previously accused Herschel Walker of making threats against her, died in 2019.

April 2020: Renaissance Man Food Services Applied for PPP Loan and Walker Mocked "Big Companies"

In April 2020, Renaissance Man Food Services applied for and received two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling $180,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also in April 2020, Herschel Walker mocked "big companies" on Twitter that received PPP money, despite being a board member of a hotel group that received over $9 million in PPP loans.

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 Supports Trump's Efforts to Overturn the 2020 Election Results

After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Herschel Walker tweeted a video supporting Trump's efforts to overturn the election results. Walker claimed that Biden "didn't get 50 million" votes and alleged that there was "country-wide election fraud".

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.

2020: Employee Count Discrepancy

In 2020, Renaissance Man Food Services informed the U.S. government that it had eight employees, contrasting with Walker's earlier claims.

2020: Comments on Fatherless Households

In 2020, prior to acknowledging all his children, Herschel Walker stated in an interview that fatherless households were a "major, major problem" in African-American communities, a statement that would later draw criticism.

July 2021: Fox News Reports Georgia Republicans Unsure of Walker's Effectiveness as Candidate

In July 2021, Fox News reported that some Georgia Republicans were unsure how effective Herschel Walker would be as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, citing the fact that his positions on issues important to Republican voters were unknown.

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.

December 2021: Senate Campaign Website Claim Controversy

In December 2021, Herschel Walker's Senate campaign website claimed he graduated as the valedictorian of the entire high school, but this was later found to have no evidence. The claim on Walker's website was later removed and amended to state that Walker graduated high school "top of his class".

December 2021: Assertions about Education Deleted

In December 2021, Herschel Walker's Senate campaign website deleted the assertions about his education after inquiries from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

2021: Marriage to Julie Blanchard

In 2021, Herschel Walker married Julie Blanchard, formalizing their relationship after being engaged since 2012.

2021: Walker Spreads Conspiracy Theory About Capitol Attack

In 2021, Herschel Walker spread a conspiracy theory about the 2021 United States Capitol attack, suggesting it was a "well-planned" distraction from election fraud.

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.

May 2022: Walker States Opposition to Abortion with No Exceptions

In May 2022, Herschel Walker stated he opposes abortion, and wants no exceptions to abortion bans, while also calling for more support for adoption and single parents.

May 2022: Walker on Tackling Gun Violence: "Cain Killed Abel"

In May 2022, when asked how to tackle gun violence, Herschel Walker referenced Cain and Abel. He suggested focusing on young men's behavior and investing in mental health.

June 2022: Acknowledging Additional Children

In June 2022, Herschel Walker publicly acknowledged his two additional sons and a daughter after a report by The Daily Beast. Walker stated that he "never denied" having four children, despite previously not acknowledging them publicly.

June 2022: Investigation Finds Walker's Claims About Working in Law Enforcement Were False or Unverifiable

In June 2022, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found Herschel Walker's claims about working in law enforcement were either false or unverifiable.

July 2022: Walker States "I Have No Clue" Regarding Fairness of Biden's Win in Georgia

In July 2022, when asked whether Joe Biden had fairly defeated Donald Trump in Georgia, Walker replied, "I have no clue."

August 2022: Walker Responds to Inflation Reduction Act

In August 2022, Herschel Walker responded to questions about the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which includes funding to counteract climate change, and made comments about money going to trees.

September 2022: Walker Endorses 15-Week Abortion Ban

In September 2022, Herschel Walker endorsed legislation proposed by Senator Lindsey Graham that would ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy nationwide, except in cases of rape, incest, and threat to the life of the patient.

September 2022: Walker States Opposition to Transgender Athletes in Women's Sports

In September 2022, Herschel Walker stated his opposition to transgender athletes competing in women's sports events. He also discussed transgender children in general.

October 3, 2022: The Daily Beast Publishes Allegations About Walker Paying for Abortion

On October 3, 2022, The Daily Beast published allegations from a woman who said that Herschel Walker impregnated her and paid for her abortion in 2009. Walker denied the allegations.

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 7, 2022: Walker Acknowledges Accuser as Mother of Son

On October 7, 2022, Herschel Walker acknowledged that his accuser was the mother of his son but neither confirmed nor denied the abortion.

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.

October 2022: Son Accuses Walker of Threats

In October 2022, Walker's adult son Christian publicly accused Walker of having threatened to kill him and his mother, criticizing Walker's public image.

October 2022: Criticism from Son Christian

In October 2022, Walker's adult son Christian publicly criticized Walker for his absence in raising his children, highlighting Walker's stance on father absence.

October 26, 2022: Second Woman Alleges Walker Pressured Her to Get Abortion in 1993

On October 26, 2022, a second woman alleged that Herschel Walker pressured her to get an abortion in 1993 after a years-long extramarital relationship with him. Walker denied the allegation.

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 Discusses Green Agenda at Rally

At a November 2022 rally, Herschel Walker told supporters that America isn't "ready for the green agenda" and advocated for keeping "gas-guzzling cars".

November 2022: Walker Describes Abortion Rights as Among Things That People Are Not Concerned About

In May 2022, Herschel Walker described abortion rights as among the "things that people are not concerned about" for the November 2022 election.

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.

December 2022: Parsa's Allegations of Abuse

In December 2022, Cheryl Parsa alleged that in 2005, during their relationship, Herschel Walker had gotten angry and physically violent with her after she found him with another woman.

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.

2022: Campaign Statement on Dean Allegations

In 2022, Herschel Walker's political campaign stated that the allegations made in the 2012 police report by Myka Dean were false.

December 16, 2024: College Graduation

On December 16, 2024, 42 years after his initial enrollment, Herschel Walker returned to the University of Georgia and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences degree in Housing Management and Policy.

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.