THE ICONIC DOAK WALKER
Doak won the 1947 Maxwell Award, the Heisman Trophy, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (1959). Walker was a 3-Time All-American in the years 1947, 1948, and 1949.
In his sophomore season, Doak led Spouthern Methodist to the 1947 SWC Championship and a tie vs. Penn State in the Cotton Bowl Classic. His junior year saw Doak once again leading SMU to the 1948 SWC Championship and a win in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
Doak would twice be named the Cotton Bowl Classic MVP, both in 1948 and 1949, while Cotton Bowl Stadium itself would receive the nickname: "The House That Doak Built".
Walker was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1986), while the Doak Walker National Running Back Award, honoring the top collegiate running back each year, was created in his honor.
PROFILE
POSITION: Running Back / Halfback / Kicker
BORNJanuary 1, 1927
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
DIEDSeptember 27, 1998 (aged 71)
Steamboat Springs, Colorado, U.S.
CAREER STATS & HIGHLIGHTS
SMU (1945; 1947-49)
Detroit Lions (1950–1955)
Doak Walker's football career remains one of the most celebrated in the sport's history, marked by his dynamic talent and enduring impact. A standout at Southern Methodist University, he captured national attention with awards like the Maxwell Award and Heisman Trophy, becoming a unanimous All-American and earning SN Player of the Year honors in 1948. His legendary No. 37 jersey is honored at SMU and retired by the Detroit Lions, where he continued to excel professionally. Recognized as the "Pride of the Lions," Walker earned a place on the Detroit Lions' 75th Anniversary and All-Time Teams, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
