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Herschel Walker played for the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League, where he set a single-season professional football rushing record for most yards in a season. Source: https://fs64sports.blogspot.com/2010/02/1983-herschel-walker-signs-with-usfl.html (May be subject to copyright) |
After completing a record-breaking junior season capped off by a Heisman Trophy, Georgia runningback Herschel Walker was poised to have a massive senior year. However, he decided to turn pro.
The thing was, the NFL did not allow underclassmen into the draft.
That meant, Walker would forego the NFL. Instead, he give instant credibility to an upstart league – the United States Football League.
That was how Herschel Walker turned pro.
What’s next?
Herschel Walker dominated college football for three years. Barring injury, he would likely have cemented his legacy as the greatest college player ever. Instead, he decided to turn pro.
Herschel Walker dominated college football for three years. Barring injury, he would likely have cemented his legacy as the greatest college player ever. Instead, he decided to turn pro.
Interestingly, there had already been one attempt to chisel Walker out of college football and turn pro. The Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, had a new and aggressive owner named Nelson Skalbania. He tried to lure Walker to Canada after his freshman season, but Walker refused. (Skalbania would go on to sign several NFL players, including star quarterback Vince Ferragamo of the Los Angeles Rams, and college standout David Overstreet from the Oklahmoma Sooners. In turn, the CFL adopted a rule similar to the one in the NFL barring underclassmen from turning pro).
The United States Football League, who would play football in the spring, were set to start their first season in 1983. Signing the reigning Heisman Trophy winner would give them instant credibility.
In addition to money, the United States Football League offered another incentive – Walker could sign wherever he wanted. Because he was looking at securing some endorsement deals, he wanted to go to a team based in the New York area.
After much hype, Herschel Walker made his decision. He was on his way to New Jersey to play for the Generals in the inaugural season of the United States Football League.
Record breaking
Just like in college, Walker would play three years in the USFL. However in this case, instead of Walker leaving the team, the team and the league left Herschel Walker. After three seasons, the USFL folded.
Just like in college, Walker would play three years in the USFL. However in this case, instead of Walker leaving the team, the team and the league left Herschel Walker. After three seasons, the USFL folded.
In those three years, playing in an 18-game schedule, Herschel Walker rushed for more than 5,000 yards, and had more than 7,000 yards from scrimmage. He also set the single-season professional rushing record in 1985 with 2,411 yards. (Eric Dickerson holds the NFL record with 2,105 yards, in 16 games, and Mike Pringle holds the CFL record of 2,065 yards in 18 games).
In 1983, Walker rushed for 1,812 yards on 412 carries with a long of 80 yards and 17 touchdowns to lead the league in rushing. He also caught 53 passes for 489 yards, one touchdown and a long of 65 yards. The Generals finished with a 6-12 record, finishing third in the Atlantic Division and out of the playoffs. Walker was also named the USFL Outstanding Runningback, and to the USFL All-League team and the Sporting News USFL All-Star team.
The following year, 1984, Walker rushed for 1,339 yards on 293 carries with a long of 69 yards and 16 touchdowns, to finish third in the league in rushing. He also caught 40 passes for 528 yards, with a long of 50 yards and five touchdowns. The Generals went 14-4 finishing second in the Atlantic Division and making the playoffs as a wildcard team, but losing to Philadelphia in the Divisional Playoff.
In 1985, as mentioned earlier, he set a record by rushing for 2,411 yards on 438 carries with a long of 88 yards and 21 touchdowns to again lead the league, and the world, in rushing. He also caught 37 passes for 467 yards with a long of 68 yards and one touchdown. The Generals went 11-7 finishing second in the Eastern Conference but losing to Baltimore, which was the same Philadelphia team they lost to the previous season, in the quarter-final game. Walker was the USFL most valuable player and the Sporting News USFL player of the year. He was also named to the USFL All-League team and the Sporting News USFL All-Star team.
Parting thoughts
Recently, it was announced the United States Football League was re-launching, in the wake of talk of the XFL striking a partnership with the CFL. It has been a long time since the USFL took the field, 35 years to be exact, and the latest incarnation will have a tough row to hoe after leagues, such as the AAF and XFL, could not even complete a season.
Recently, it was announced the United States Football League was re-launching, in the wake of talk of the XFL striking a partnership with the CFL. It has been a long time since the USFL took the field, 35 years to be exact, and the latest incarnation will have a tough row to hoe after leagues, such as the AAF and XFL, could not even complete a season.
The one thing that would help immeasurably to give it instant credibility would be to land a star, as the USFL did back in 1983.
However, the stars may not align again because there is no college star of the stature of Herschel Walker.
Besides, there will never be another Herschel Walker.
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