Walker’s 2,129 Rushing Yards in USFL Exceed Dickerson’s 2,105 Mark in NFL

Herschel Walker became professional football’s all-time leading rusher in a single season, and he really doesn’t care what the critics have to say about his feat in the United States Football League.

Walker broke professional football’s single-season rushing record, scored two touchdowns and carried New Jersey into the USFL playoffs Monday night as the Generals edged the Jacksonville Bulls, 31-24.

Walker carried the ball 28 times and gained 162 yards, giving him 2,129 yards in 16 games. That bettered the pro record of 2,105 yards set by Eric Dickerson of the Rams in this past National Football League season, also in 16 games.

“There are going to be critics all over the world talking about the record,” Walker said. “People always have something to say when a record is broken. But I have the numbers to prove it. I am honored to be in the same class as Eric Dickerson.”

The record-breaking run came with 6:38 left in the third quarter as Walker cut off-tackle, broke two tackles and went 55 yards for a touchdown, the last 45 yards untouched.

Brian Sipe, the injured Jacksonville quarterback who was a teammate of Walker’s last season, said the record was well deserved.

“I don’t know where he goes from here,” Sipe said. “He has an uncanny ability not to be dragged down. If he sheds enough people and gets one step, it’s all over with.”

The touchdown was Walker’s second of the game, and gave him 21 for the season, tying the league record he set last year along with Gary Anderson of Tampa Bay. The rushing touchdown was his 20th of the season, a USFL record, one better than Anderson had last season.

It also was the 10th straight game in which Walker has gained at least 100 yards, and the 13th time this season the Heisman Trophy winner from Georgia has accomplished the feat. That broke another Dickerson record. He had 12 games of 100 or more yards last season.