PFHOF RB Nominees

_{The Pro Football Hall of Fame released the names of 130 players to be considered for induction in the 2021 class. Herschel Walker was included with eleven other running backs (and three career fullbacks). Six others were nominated as special teamers / return men. Most of the names are holdovers from previous years – the only name is former Titans standout Stephen Jackson, whose numbers and honors place him in the middle of the pack of nominees.}

_{Unlike most of the other nominees, Herschel’s NFL career began and ended earlier, in a time when premiere running backs weren’t asked to catch as many passes, play other positions, return kicks, or play special teams. Yet of the twelve RB’s only Tiki Barber had more receptions and receiving yards. Barber’s rookie season was Herschel’s last. Walker showed his unique versatility by playing flanker, wide receiver, tight end, fullback, and special teams. He set the Cowboys record for receptions by a rookie, which was second-most in NFL history.} 

_{Walker’s NFL career was quite unique. He retired ranked second in NFL history with 18168 combined yards, behind only Walter Payton. He is the only player in NFL history with a rush, reception, and return of 90+ yards, and the only player in NFL history with a rush and reception of 80+ yards in the same game. In his Hall of Fame induction speech Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that Jones wouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame if he hadn’t made the blockbuster trade of Herschel to the Vikings, for the players and picks that formed the foundation of the Cowboys dynasty in the 90’s.}      

_{For these reasons it’s hard to compare Herschel to most of the other feature backs of his era. Among the other backs nominated, Walker is most deserving of induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.}

_{yr..years...G..rush yd.TD.rec.recyd.comb yd..honors}

_{12 86-97 187 08225 084 512 4859 18168 H Walker 2xPB}

_{10 97-06 154 10449 068 586 5183 17359 T Barber AP 3xPB}

_{08 00-08 123 09453 112 215 1520 10973 S Alexander MVP AP 3xPB}

_{12 97-08 181 10967 064 510 4339 15665 W Dunn ROY MOY 3xPB}

_{12 04-15 160 11438 078 461 3683 15191 S Jackson (new) 3xPB}

_{10 92-01 144 10643 091 467 4248 14891 R Watters SB 5xPB}

_{13 98-10 153 11695 074 290 2384 14079 F Taylor 1xPB}

_{14 84-97 211 08261 071 512 4605 13497 E Byner SB 2xPB}

_{10 97-06 150 11241 089 244 1913 13335 C Dillon SB 4xPB}

_{09 96-04 141 10441 078 360 2227 12668 E George ROY AP 4xPB}

_{10 00-09 131 10607 062 221 1879 12486 J Lewis SB AP PB}

_{10 97-07 113 08172 094 339 2962 11186 P Holmes SB 3xAP 3xPB}

_{Of the three career fullbacks on the list, Larry Centers receiving yards over 14 years bettered Herschel 12 year total, but Centers’ rushing total was over 6000 yards less.}

_{14 90-03 198 02188 042 827 6797 09659 L Centers FB SB AP 3xPB}

_{11 96-06 158 05088 071 305 2284 07372 M Alstott FB SB 3xAP 6xPB}

_{16 93-08 239 00807 020 005 1086 02072 L Neal 2xAP 4xPB}

_{Of the special teamers, only Mitchell gained more yards than Herschel. He played two more NFL seasons, but only had 4400 yards rushing and receiving, to Walker’s 13000.}

_{Metcalf was the only special teamer with more receptions and receiving yards than Herschel, but he had almost 6000 less rushing yards.}

_{14 90-03 223 01967 029 255 2336 23330 B Mitchell KR RB SB AP PB} 

_{13 89-02 179 02392 055 541 5572 17230 E Metcalf 2xAP 3xPB}

_{10 05-14 136 00808 020 110 1175 15453 J Cribbs KR WR AP 3xPB}

_{09 93-01 138 00817 011 170 1322 14911 G Milburn AP 2xPB}

_{12 86-97 169 00099 010 013 0164 13279 M Grey KR WR 3xAP 4xPB}

_{13 85-97 169 00130 009 020 0130 02159 S Tasker ST WR 7xPB}

_{Glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks Herschel should be in the hall.}

_{https://www.si.com/nfl/talkoffame/nfl/state-your-case-herschel-walker-9gsNhhDTBEGruOZBCWt6sw}