Former NFL running back Herschel Walker believes that his title could be “current NFL running back” Herschel Walker if he really wanted.
Walker, who is now 52, made two Pro Bowls during his NFL career. He has remained in tremendous shape with mixed martial arts training and was even interested in wrestling at one point, but a 52-year-old in the NFL? Come on.
Earlier this week, Walker told USA Today Sports that he could still get it done if given the chance.
“I can play in the NFL today,” he said. “I couldn’t take every snap. But running backs nowadays don’t play every down. Now they send in the choir section. Physically, I can still do it.”
Walker said he is not actually planning a comeback, though he was supposedly eyeing a return a little over three years ago when he was 48. His point seemed to be that NFL running backs today split carries so much that the physical toll on their bodies isn’t nearly as severe. He’s right in a way, but the average career of a running back is still incredibly short.
As Jarrett Bell of USA Today Sports noted, Walker is a guy whose training regimen once included 1,500 push-ups and 3,500 sit-ups per day. He was quick to point out that he remains undefeated in his MMA career, though his last fight was in 2011.
“Hey, I’m 2-0,” Walker said.
We admire Walker’s confidence and his desire to bring some media attention to himself, but an athlete over the age of 50 simply wouldn’t last in the NFL. It just doesn’t make sense physically.
H/T Eye on Football
