Herschel Walker is Player with Most Total Yards in Pro Football History

Jerry Rice is generally considered the player with most total yards in pro football history but he is not the player with the most total yards in pro football history. That player is Herschel Walker.

Jerry Rice is the all time leader in total yards in NFL history with 23,546 yards most of which came from receiving.

Herschel Walker accumulated 18,168 yards in his NFL career which is the 8th highest total in NFL history. But Herschel Walker also played for 3 seasons in the USFL and accumulated another 7,115 yards in that pro league playing for the New Jersey Generals owned by Donald Trump.

Adding together Herschel Walker's NFL total of 18,168 yards with his USFL total of 7,115 yards yields a grand total of 25,283 yards. That is 1,737 more yards than Jerry Rice has.

Herschel Walker is the player with the most total yards in pro football history.

Breakdown of Herschel Walker's Pro Football Statistics

USFL from 1983-1985 with New Jersey Generals

Rushing - 5,562 yards

Receiving - 1,484 yards

Kick Returns - 69 yards

NFL from 1986-1997 with Dallas Cowboys, Vikings, Eagles and Giants

Rushing - 8,225 yards

Receiving - 4,859 yards

Kick Returns - 5,084 yards

Herschel Walker's Yards Per Averages by League

USFL from 1983-1985 with New Jersey Generals

Rushing - 4.9 yards per carry (5,562 yards on 1,143 carries)

Receiving - 11.4 yards per catch (1,484 yards on 130 receptions)

Kick Returns - 23 yards per return (69 yards on 3 returns)

NFL from 1986-1997 with Dallas Cowboys, Vikings, Eagles and Giants

Rushing - 4.2 yards per carry (8,225 yards on 1,954 carries)

Receiving - 9.5 yards per catch (4,859 yards on 512 receptions)

Kick Returns - 23.6 (5,084 yards on 215 returns)

Herschel Walker's Overall Yards Per Averages as a Pro

Rushing - 4.5 yards per carry (13,787 yards on 3,097 carries)

Receiving - 9.9 yards per catch (6,343 yards on 642 receptions)

Kick Returns - 23.6 yards per return (5,153 yards on 218 returns)

After winning the Heisman Trophy during his junior year in college Herschel Walker was the biggest football star in the United States. He was considered a can't-miss pro and he left college after his junior year to join the New Jersey Generals of the newly formed USFL in 1983.

In 1983 the NFL still had a rule in place forbidding underclassmen from joining the league.

Herschel Walker won a state of Georgia football championship in high school and then won a NCAA football championship with Georgia but he never won a Super Bowl or USFL Championship.

To many he never lived up to his potential as a pro but Herschel Walker is the player with the most total yards in pro football history. He also accomplished some incredible things playing football including in the pros which you can read about at 25 Reasons Why Herschel Walker was a Great Football Player.

For more see Most Rushing Yards Per Carry in Pro Football History

Most Receiving Yards Per Catch in Pro Football History

Top 10 Most Total Yards in NFL History

Sources:

Pro-Football Reference

New Jersey Generals