By far the most notable team in the USFL was the entry in the New York market. Like the NFL's New York Giants, the team would play in the Meadowlands, but identified with the state they played in becoming the New Jersey Generals.

The Generals were owned by an up and coming real estate mogul named Donald Trump. Trump was just starting to make his mark on the New York skyline with the opening of Trump Tower and was quickly becoming the biggest mover and shaker in the big apple.

Donald Trump looked to have the same impact on the world of professional football and made the earth shattering move of signing Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker. Trump along with co-owner J.

Walter Duncan signed Walker to a personal services contract worth $4. 2 million, more than double the $1.

8 million salary cap. However, the contract circumvented the USFL salary cap and sent a president that would be used in later big signings.

At the time the NFL banned underclassmen from entering the draft. The USFL had planned to honor that deal but after the Generals signed Herschel Walker who won the Heisman as a Junior at Georgia, realized such bans would not hold up in court and later opened the door for the NFL to follow suit.

Before the season began, Donald Trump stepped away from the Generals and the USFL to concentrate on creating his casino in Atlantic City, which would help turn at least for a few years into an Eastern Las Vegas. On the field the New Jersey Generals coached by Chuck Fairbanks were not as successful as they struggled in their first season.

The Generals dropped their first four games before beating the Arizona Wranglers 35-21. The Generals struggles though would continue as they finished the season with a record of 6-12 as their defense was one of the worst in the USFL allowing 437 points.

Despite the poor showing, Herschel Walker had a solid season, leading the league in rushing with 1,812 yards and 17 touchdowns.