Herschel Walker is a former professional football great as well as an athlete in many other respects; Walker is an accomplished bobsledder, MMA fighter, and sprinter. He was ranked No. 1 (in all-time collegiate football players) by The Bleacher Report as well as 247Sports.com and Sporting News. ESPN ranks Walker at number 2 as a collegiate football player. Walker was a celebrated Georgia Bulldog; he is a three-time All American and winner of the 1982 Heisman Trophy.
Walker initially began his professional athletic career in the United States Football League, but he would play with the Dallas Cowboys as well as the Minnesota Vikings, the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles. He is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, inducted in 1999.
Herschel Walker announced in late 2021 that he would seek a seat in the United States Senate representing the Peach State. According to Politico, Walker is far ahead in primary poll numbers. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell as well as former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich have thrown their support behind Walker’s campaign, and most moderate Republicans in Georgia support this athletic great and former business owner as well.
| Celebrated Name: | Herschel Walker |
| Real Name/Full Name: | Herschel Junior Walker |
| Gender: | Male |
| Age: | 59 |
| Birthdate: | March 3, 1962 |
| Birthplace: | Augusta, GA |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 6 ft. 1 in. |
| Weight: | 225 lb. |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Wife/Spouse | Cindy DeAngelis Grossman (m. 1983 – d. 2002), Julie Blanchard (m. May 2021) |
| Children/Kids: | One son – Christian |
| Dating/Girlfriend Name: | N/A |
| Is Herschel Walker Gay? | No |
| Highest Political Office: | Currently seeking seat U.S. Senate |
| Profession: | Athlete and business owner |
| Colleges Attended: | University of Georgia |
| Degrees: | N/A |
| Salary: | $100,000 |
| Net Worth in 2022: | $12 million |
Biography: Early Life and Family
Herschel Junior Walker was born in Augusta, Georgia on March 3, 1962. He would be raised in Wrightsville, GA. His parents were Willis and Christine Walker, and Herschel is one of seven children. As a young child, Herschel was often picked on due to an issue with stuttering. He has also discussed that he was overweight as a child.
Walker would share that his mother always encouraged him to push through any adversity in life, including his stuttering. His mother taught him that he should not use these shortcomings as excuses in life.
Walker attended the Johnson County High School in Wrightsville. There, he would participate in not only football, but also in track and basketball. During Walker’s senior year, he was able to rush for 3,167 yards and, with Walker on the team, the Johnson County High School Trojan football team won its first state championship.
Walker was the valedictorian of his graduating class at Johnson County High.
Walker won many athletic awards during his senior year, 1980. He was an “athlete-scholar” delegate to the American Academy of Achievement that June. He was awarded the American Academy’s Golden Plate Award in 1981; Council member Coach Tom Landry, the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, for whom Walker would later play.
Herschel was also a standout on the track and field team. He competed in the 100 yard dash, the shot put, and other sprinting events. Walker would also participate in track and field events at the University of Georgia, where he was a sprinter. He was selected All-American twice for his track and field accomplishments as a Bulldog.
Personal Life
Walker would marry his high school sweetheart, Cindy DeAngelis Grossman. For most of her life, Walker’s ex-wife would remain out of the spotlight. The pair had one son together, Christian.
When the pair divorced, Grossman accused Walker of domestic abuse. However, Walker eventually released information that he was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, which he said caused him to behave outside of his normal character.
Walker sought help for this mental illness, which he said is the result of many years of bullying as well as other factors. Walker often used sports to channel his illness, but, once he no longer played professionally, he had no outlet for his issues. Walker credits his faith in God as helping get successful treatment for this issue.
Walker remarried in May 2021 to Julie Blanchard. The current Mrs. Herschel Walker is very private, so little is known about her.
Age, Height, and Weight
Herschel Walker is 59 years old. He is 6′ 1″ and 225 pounds.
Net Worth
Herschel Walker has an estimated net worth of $12 million. His wealth was accumulated from his time as a professional football player and success as a business owner.
Herschel Walker forfeited his senior year to pursue a career in professional football. He initially played for the USFL before being chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in 1985. Walker played professional football for thirteen years altogether.
Walker has been a professional athlete in sports other than football, including bobsledding and mixed martial arts.
However, it is Walker’s business dealings that contribute most highly to his net worth. He established Renaissance Man Food Services, Inc. in 1999. This company distributes chicken products. The company is the largest minority-owned chicken supplier.
President Trump chose Walker to head the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
Career Outside of Politics
For most of his life, Walker has been an athlete, both in college and professionally. Walker was a running back at the University of Georgia. He set multiple records at his alma mater, only to have one NCAA record merely tied by Jonathan Taylor. Herschel Walker was the first “true” freshman (he did not sit out during his freshman year at UGA; he played and used his eligibility rather than “red shirting.” One who “red shirts” has an extra year of playing eligibility.) to be a first team All-American nominee.
He played on the 1981 National Championship team; the Bulldogs defeated Notre Dame at the Sugar Bowl that year.
Walker left UGA at the end of his junior year to pursue a professional football career, not uncommon for star athletes. He signed with a USFL football team, the New Jersey Generals in 1983. He would be chosen by the Dallas Cowboys, America’s Team, in 1985; Walker had previously said he would love to play for the team, and rumors abounded that the USFL would not last (the organization would fold within a year of Walker’s move to the Cowboys).
Unfortunately, Herschel Walker’s name became synonymous with being traded across the NFL. Walker would be traded to the Vikings, the New York Giants, and back to the Cowboys before he retired from pro football.
Walker was invited to two different Pro Bowl appearances in 1987 and 1988. He was the tenth player in the history of the National Football League to rack up over 2,000 combined rushing yards as well as reception yards in a single season. Many described Walker as a “one-man offense.” He played seven different positions on the offense: H-back, wide receiver, halfback, tight end, and fullback. He played wide receiver in both the slot and as a flanker.
Walker participated in the 1992 Winter Olympics as a bobsledder. He was a member of the United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation at the time. Walker and his partner placed seventh in their event.
Walker had two matches as a mixed martial arts fighter. He won both, and he donated the proceeds to charity.
Walker would establish Renaissance Man Food Services, Inc. in 1999. He originally planned to produce chicken products via Sysco, but Tyson Foods would eventually be the production company for five years while Walker was in the process of erecting his production plant.
In 2008, Renaissance Man Food Services, Inc. would employ more than 100 Georgians and post $70 million in sales.
Walker’s successful chicken product business was deeply affected by the pandemic. At least fifty percent of Walker’s business was lost due to COVID-19 and the resulting recession. Walker offer to trim his own salary so that his employees could remain on the payroll. A recent company profile offered that Renaissance Man Food Services now has three employees total.
The Renaissance Man Food Services Inc. offers not only poultry products but also bakery items and pork. The company is said to produce $4.95 million in sales each year.
Career in Politics
While Herschel Walker is working toward his first political position, he has been involved in politics for some time in a variety of roles.
He is a Republican, and he is quite conservative in his political beliefs. He identifies as a Christian. Walker has a close relationship with his son, Christian, who is also involved in political activism.
Herschel Walker supported then-candidate Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential run. When Walker played for the USFL, the New Jersey Generals were bought by Trump prior to Walker’s move to the Dallas Cowboys; they were already acquaintances. Walker spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention.
Walker serves on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition; Trump originally appointed Walker to this role, which he continues under President Joe Biden.
Walker is currently campaigning for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Raphael Warnock in Georgia.
