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Herschel Walker was the biggest NFL and USFL star of his time. The running back made the most of his opportunities by becoming one of the top earners in his profession. The former Dallas Cowboys star running back is in the news for his political aspirations, but Walker made his mark early on from his professional football career.
Instead of starting with the NFL as most collegiate athletes do, Herschel Walker signed with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL on a three-year, $5 million deal in 1983. Walker chose this route because he could leave after his junior year at Georgia and choose which team he wanted to play for rather than wait for the draft.
Although the USFL had a salary cap of $1.8 million, the team owner found a loophole by signing Walker to a personal services contract. Later, future U.S. President Donald Trump took over that contract.
While he was an instant star in the USFL, the NFL came calling and Walker answered. In 1985, the Dallas Cowboys selected Walker in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Dallas then signed him to a five-year, $5 million deal that also included a $1.4 million signing bonus. In all, Herschel Walker earned an estimated $15 million over his 16-year NFL career. Walker released a report of his personal finances, where he claimed to be worth between $29 million and $65 million.
The Cowboys famously traded Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for a treasure trove of draft picks that turned into future NFL Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson. It also yielded players like Russell Maryland and Kevin Smith, who were instrumental in the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl wins in the early ‘90s.
Herschel Walker is the latest NFL player to run for political office
Herschel Walker is currently running for a U.S. Senate seat from the state of Georgia as the Republican nominee. The candidate won the primary in the state and is currently gearing up for the general election, which will take place in November.
Walker will be running against Democrat incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock. The latest poll projects Warnock to hold a slight edge over Walker by as little as three points.
Former NFL players running for political office is nothing new. Other players that have run include former New Orleans Saints quarterback Heath Shuler, former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jack Kemp, and former wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez.
