Herschel Walker

Herschel Walker (born March 3, 1962) is an American retired football player, politician, bobsledder, sprinter, and mixed martial artist who has been the 14th U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas since 2025. He played college football for the University of Georgia. He has been called one of the best college football players of all time. He was the Republican candidate for the United States Senate in Georgia for the 2022 election and was defeated in the runoff election by Raphael Warnock.

Herschel Walker
Official portrait, 2025
14th United States Ambassador to the Bahamas
Incumbent
Assumed office December 9, 2025
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Nicole Avant (2011)
Co-Chair of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
In office 2018–2022
President	Donald Trump Joe Biden
Preceded by	Dominique Dawes Drew Brees
Succeeded by	Elena Delle Donne José Andrés
Personal details
Born	Herschel Junior Walker 3 March 1962 (aged 64) Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Cindy DeAngelis Grossman ​ ​ (m. 1983; div. 2002)​ Julie Blanchard ​ ​ (m. 2021)​
Children	4, including Christian
Education	University of Georgia (BS)
Awards	Full list
Football career
No. 34
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:	Johnson County (Wrightsville, Georgia)
College:	Georgia (1980–1982)
NFL Draft:	1985 / Round: 5 / Pick: 114
Career history
New Jersey Generals (1983–1985) Dallas Cowboys (1986) Minnesota Vikings (1989–1991) Philadelphia Eagles (1992) New York Giants (1995) Dallas Cowboys (1996)
Career highlights and awards
USFL MVP (1985) 2× Second-team All-Pro (1987, 1988) 2× Pro Bowl (1987, 1988) National champion (1980) Heisman Trophy (1982) Maxwell Award (1982) Walter Camp Award (1982) SN Player of the Year (1982) UPI Player of the Year (1982) Chic Harley Award (1982) SEC Athlete of the Year (1983) 3× SEC Player of the Year (1980–1982) 3× Unanimous All-American (1980–1982) 3× First-team All-SEC (1980–1982) SEC All-Time Team (1982) First-team AP All-Time All-American (2025) Georgia Bulldogs No. 34 retired
Career statistics
Rushing attempts: 1,954 Rushing yards: 8,225 Rushing touchdowns: 61 Receptions: 512 Receiving yards: 4,859 Receiving touchdowns: 21
Player stats at PFR
College Football Hall of Fame

In December 2024, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Walker to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in October 2025.

Personal life

Walker was born in Augusta, Georgia. He studied at University of Georgia. He was married to Cindy DeAngelis Grossman from 1983 until their divorce in 2002. They have one son, Christian.

NFL career

Walker began his professional football career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL) in 1983. He later joined the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). In the NFL, he also played for the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants. He retired from the NFL in 1997.

He was honored into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Political career

He was named Co-Chair of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition after being appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020. He supported Trump's presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020.

Walker ran for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate from Georgia in the 2022 election. Former President Trump supported his Senate campaign.

On December 18, 2024 President-elect Trump announced that Walker would be nominated to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas. His nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 51-47 vote. He is the first U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas in nearly fifteen years.

Herschel Walker Media

• 

  Walker's official portrait as a co-chair of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition

• 

  Walker giving a speech on mental health, 2017

Other websites

• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Herschel Walker on IMDb