Retro Video: Herschel Walker Debuts with Minnesota Vikings

It was simply known as “The Trade.”

The Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys exchanged 18 players and draft picks 5 games into the 1989 season with Herschel Walker being the pivotal piece of the puzzle.  Most of the draft picks and players headed to Dallas and the Cowboys were able to capitalize on the draft with future stars like Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson to help guide them to their Super Bowl Dynasty of the ’90s.

Sadly, Herschel Walker would never blossom in Minnesota and many critics have labeled “The Trade” as one of the worst ever in professional sports.

Here’s a retro video of when Herschel debuted with the Vikings against the Green Bay Packers on October 15, 1989. The crowd was excited about the prospect of Walker and dreams of a Super Bowl as they watch Walker make huge kick returns and gain big yards rushing in his first game.

Walker would finish the game with a solid 148 yards rushing.  But he would never again be the force he was in Dallas and he left the Vikings after only a couple more seasons.