Herbert Goodman facts for kids

Herbert Goodman (born August 31, 1977) is a retired American athlete who was a professional mixed martial artist and a former NFL football player. In football, he was a running back for the Green Bay Packers. As a fighter, he competed in big promotions like Bellator and King of the Cage from 2007 to 2011.

Because he was very soft-spoken, he earned the nickname "Whisper."

From High School Sports to College Football

Goodman was born and grew up in Miami, Florida. He went to Homestead High School, where he was a star in track and field. He was so good at the long jump that he placed third in the entire state during his senior year.

Even though he was great at track, Goodman started playing football in his last year of high school. He continued playing at Graceland College in Iowa. In just two years (1998-1999), he rushed for an amazing 2,385 yards. His talent caught the eye of the NFL, and the Green Bay Packers signed him in 2000.

Career in the NFL

Goodman played for two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers. He played in 12 games during the 2000 and 2001 seasons as a running back and kick returner. A kick returner's job is to catch the ball after a kickoff and run it as far as possible.

In 2002, he played in NFL Europe for the Scottish Claymores. He was the best running back in the league that year, rushing for 873 yards. This set a new team record for the Claymores.

After his time in the NFL, Goodman also played in the CFL. He retired from football in 2005 after a knee injury.

A New Career in Mixed Martial Arts

After his football career ended, Goodman started a new one in mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2007. MMA is a sport that combines different fighting styles like boxing, wrestling, and karate.

Fighting in Major Promotions

Goodman fought in several MMA organizations. He even had a fight against the famous Hector Lombard at Bellator 24, but lost by knockout in the first round.

He had great success in a Wisconsin-based promotion called Combat USA. He won the Wisconsin State semifinals and then faced Gerald Meerschaert in the finals. Goodman won the fight by submission using a move called a rear-naked choke. This victory made him the Middleweight State Champion of Wisconsin.

Goodman retired from professional fighting in 2011.

Mixed Martial Arts Record Summary

Here is a summary of Herbert Goodman's professional MMA career.

• Total Fights: 30
• Wins: 19
  • By Knockout (KO): 7
  • By Submission: 8
  • By Decision: 3
  • By Disqualification (DQ): 1
• Losses: 11
  • By Knockout (KO): 3
  • By Submission: 2
  • By Decision: 6