We may never know how good former NFL running back Heschel Walker could have been. After winning the heisman in 1982 (with the Georgia Bulldogs), Walker signed a contract with the USFL (United States Football League). He played for the New Jersey Generals from 1983 to 1985 until he elected to apply for the 1985 NFL draft. He was selected in the fifth round (114th pick overall) by the Dallas Cowboys, where he made two NFL Pro Bowls.
After Tony Dorsett was traded to the Denver Broncos in 1988, Walker posted his best numbers as a pro rushing for 1,514 yards with five touchdowns and receiving for 505 yards while scoring two touchdowns. His combined stats were 2,019 yards gained from scrimmage and seven touchdowns. He also played seven positions: halfback, fullback, tight end, H-back, wide receiver, both in the slot, and as a flanker.
Unfortunately, Walker is most-known in the NFL as the key-piece to the largest player trade in National Football League history including 18 players and draft picks.
Here is the trade:
Minnesota Vikings received:
- RB Herschel Walker
- Dallas's 3rd round pick - 1990 (54) (Mike Jones)
- San Diego's 5th round pick - 1990 (116) (Reggie Thornton)
- Dallas's 10th round pick - 1990 (249) (Pat Newman)
- Dallas's 3rd round pick - 1991 (68) (Jake Reed)
Dallas Cowboys received:
- LB Jesse Solomon
- LB David Howard
- CB Issiac Holt
- RB Darrin Nelson (traded to San Diego after he refused to report to Dallas)
- DE Alex Stewart
- Minnesota's 1st round pick in 1990 (21) (traded this pick along with pick (81) for pick (17) from Pittsburgh to draft Emmitt Smith)
- Minnesota's 2nd round pick in 1990 (47) (Alexander Wright)
- Minnesota's 6th round pick in 1990 (158) (traded to New Orleans, who drafted James Williams)
- Minnesota's 1st round pick in 1991 (conditional) - (12) (Alvin Harper)
- Minnesota's 2nd round pick in 1991 (conditional) - (38) (Dixon Edwards)
- Minnesota's 2nd round pick in 1992 (conditional) - (37) (Darren Woodson)
- Minnesota's 3rd round pick in 1992 (conditional) - (71) (traded to New England, who drafted Kevin Turner)
- Minnesota's 1st round pick in 1993 (conditional) - (13) (traded to Philadelphia Eagles, and then to the Houston Oilers, who drafted Brad Hopkins)
Man people will tell you that Walker then went into a long-lasting slump, for the rest of his career, after being dealt to the Minnesota Vikings, but I don't know if that is completely true. Even though he only had one more season with over 1,000 rushing yards (1992), Walker posted over that mark in total yardage six more times (1989-1994).
"Without a doubt in my mind, I should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame," Walker said. "You look at my stats without my USFL stats, and I don't know how you can argue with that. Look at my combined yards. I'm not one to make excuses, so I'll play by their rules and not even count the USFL stats."
If you do 'count' his impressive USFL statistics he has the most total yards gained from the line of scrimmage in professional football history with 20,130 yards. With just his NFL stats he's posted 13,084 yards. Though he did not get the chances he thinks he should have had.
"I didn't get the opportunities to run the ball," Walker said. "People said, 'Herschel can't run out of a split backfield, Herschel can't do this.' But you've got to give opportunities to athletes."
If I was asked this question it would be a wholeheartedly YES!
After Tony Dorsett was traded to the Denver Broncos in 1988, Walker posted his best numbers as a pro rushing for 1,514 yards with five touchdowns and receiving for 505 yards while scoring two touchdowns. His combined stats were 2,019 yards gained from scrimmage and seven touchdowns. He also played seven positions: halfback, fullback, tight end, H-back, wide receiver, both in the slot, and as a flanker.
Unfortunately, Walker is most-known in the NFL as the key-piece to the largest player trade in National Football League history including 18 players and draft picks.
Here is the trade:
Minnesota Vikings received:
- RB Herschel Walker
- Dallas's 3rd round pick - 1990 (54) (Mike Jones)
- San Diego's 5th round pick - 1990 (116) (Reggie Thornton)
- Dallas's 10th round pick - 1990 (249) (Pat Newman)
- Dallas's 3rd round pick - 1991 (68) (Jake Reed)
Dallas Cowboys received:
- LB Jesse Solomon
- LB David Howard
- CB Issiac Holt
- RB Darrin Nelson (traded to San Diego after he refused to report to Dallas)
- DE Alex Stewart
- Minnesota's 1st round pick in 1990 (21) (traded this pick along with pick (81) for pick (17) from Pittsburgh to draft Emmitt Smith)
- Minnesota's 2nd round pick in 1990 (47) (Alexander Wright)
- Minnesota's 6th round pick in 1990 (158) (traded to New Orleans, who drafted James Williams)
- Minnesota's 1st round pick in 1991 (conditional) - (12) (Alvin Harper)
- Minnesota's 2nd round pick in 1991 (conditional) - (38) (Dixon Edwards)
- Minnesota's 2nd round pick in 1992 (conditional) - (37) (Darren Woodson)
- Minnesota's 3rd round pick in 1992 (conditional) - (71) (traded to New England, who drafted Kevin Turner)
- Minnesota's 1st round pick in 1993 (conditional) - (13) (traded to Philadelphia Eagles, and then to the Houston Oilers, who drafted Brad Hopkins)
Man people will tell you that Walker then went into a long-lasting slump, for the rest of his career, after being dealt to the Minnesota Vikings, but I don't know if that is completely true. Even though he only had one more season with over 1,000 rushing yards (1992), Walker posted over that mark in total yardage six more times (1989-1994).
"Without a doubt in my mind, I should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame," Walker said. "You look at my stats without my USFL stats, and I don't know how you can argue with that. Look at my combined yards. I'm not one to make excuses, so I'll play by their rules and not even count the USFL stats."
If you do 'count' his impressive USFL statistics he has the most total yards gained from the line of scrimmage in professional football history with 20,130 yards. With just his NFL stats he's posted 13,084 yards. Though he did not get the chances he thinks he should have had.
"I didn't get the opportunities to run the ball," Walker said. "People said, 'Herschel can't run out of a split backfield, Herschel can't do this.' But you've got to give opportunities to athletes."
If I was asked this question it would be a wholeheartedly YES!