Herbert Goodman (born August 31, 1977) is a retired American professional mixed martial artist and former NFL running back for the Green Bay Packers. A professional competitor from 2007 until 2011, Goodman competed for Bellator, M-1 Global and King of the Cage. He received his nickname, "Whisper" due to his soft-spoken personality.[1][2]
Goodman was born and raised in Miami, Florida, attending Homestead High School where he competed in track and field, becoming a two-time letter winner in the sport and also placed third in the state long jump during his senior year. Goodman began playing football during his senior year of high school, and then continued with the sport for the two years 1998-1999 at Graceland College (NAIA) in Lamoni, Iowa, where he rushed for 2,385 yards before he was signed by the Green Bay Packers of the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2000.[3]
Goodman played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as a running back and kick returner for the Green Bay Packers, appearing in 12 games during the 2000 and 2001 seasons. He ran the ball four times for -3 yards and returned five kickoffs for 150 yards. He also fumbled twice.[4] Goodman was allocated to NFL Europe in 2002 where he started for the Scottish Claymores,[5] rushing for 873 yards to lead the league and also surpass Siran Stacy's single season team rushing record. After his stint in the NFL, Goodman also was a member of various teams' practice squads, played in the CFL, and also played semi-professionally in Wisconsin. He eventually retired in 2005 after suffering a knee injury in the CFL.[6]
Goodman started his professional mixed martial arts career in 2007. He fought Hector Lombard at Bellator 24 and lost via first-round KO.[7]
Goodman fought Will Dicke in the Wisconsin State semifinals and won via unanimous decision to move on to the Wisconsin State finals. He fought Gerald Meerschaert in the Wisconsin State finals and won via submission (rear-naked choke) to become the Middleweight State Champion of Wisconsin.
Goodman was supposed to face Louis Taylor, the Middleweight State Champion of Illinois, on July 16, 2011 at Combat USA Wisconsin vs. Illinois but Taylor dropped out of the fight just 2 hours before the weigh-ins with a bruised leg.