BREAKING NEWS: Netflix Released “The underdog,” a Highly Anticipated Documentary about Georgia bulldog legend Herschel Walker, slated for Release on the….

In a move that has sports fans, documentary lovers, and Georgia Bulldogs faithful buzzing with excitement, Netflix has officially announced the release of **”The Underdog”**, a new original documentary chronicling the remarkable life and legacy of college football legend **Herschel Walker**. The film is slated for global release on **September 6, 2025**, just in time to coincide with the opening weekend of the NCAA football season.

The streaming giant dropped the first official trailer on Thursday morning across its social media platforms, and within minutes, “Herschel Walker” was trending worldwide. The emotional, high-energy teaser features never-before-seen footage of Walker’s high school days in Wrightsville, GA, exclusive interviews with coaches, teammates, and rivals, and a cinematic score that sets the tone for a deeply inspirational journey.

### **“The Underdog” — A Story Bigger Than Football**

Directed by award-winning documentarian **Ryan Coogler Jr.**, son of *Creed* and *Black Panther* director Ryan Coogler, *The Underdog* aims to go beyond the field. The documentary explores Herschel Walker’s early struggles with a speech impediment and bullying, his unprecedented dominance at the University of Georgia, and the personal challenges he faced throughout his NFL career and life after football.

> “This is not just a sports film,” said Coogler Jr. in a press release. “This is a human story—of triumph, resilience, and identity. Herschel Walker’s legacy is far more complex and inspiring than people know. *The Underdog* will show that.”

Spanning over two years of production, the documentary was created with full participation from Walker and his family. Netflix confirmed that the project had access to private letters, journal entries, and over 100 hours of archival footage—much of it never aired before.

### **The Georgia Bulldog Years — A Legend in the Making**

The centerpiece of the film, according to early reviews from test screenings, is Walker’s unparalleled time at the University of Georgia, where he played from 1980 to 1982. As a freshman, Walker stormed onto the college football scene, leading the Bulldogs to a national championship and rewriting the record books along the way.

He finished his collegiate career with 5,259 rushing yards and 52 touchdowns, winning the **Heisman Trophy** in 1982 and becoming one of the most celebrated players in NCAA history.

Former Georgia head coach **Vince Dooley**, who passed away in 2022, appears in the film through exclusive interview footage recorded in 2020. In one emotional segment, Dooley reportedly calls Walker “the greatest college football player of all time” and “the heart and soul of Georgia football.”

> “Without Herschel, there’s no 1980 title. There’s no dominance. There’s no SEC fear factor,” Dooley says in the film.

The documentary also includes input from modern Georgia greats like **Nick Chubb**, **Stetson Bennett**, and current head coach **Kirby Smart**, each paying tribute to Walker’s influence on the program’s identity.

### **Never-Before-Seen Footage and Personal Reflections**

What makes *The Underdog* so unique, Netflix says, is the depth of personal access it had to Walker and those closest to him. The film reveals handwritten notes from Walker’s high school days about his dream of “changing the way people see small-town kids” and features voiceovers from Walker reading personal reflections about self-doubt, race, and purpose.

In one moving segment, Walker reflects on his childhood:

> “I didn’t speak much. I was afraid of my own voice. But I ran like the wind because running was where I didn’t have to explain myself to anybody. That’s where I found my voice.”

The film also touches on his post-football journey, including battles with dissociative identity disorder (DID), his controversial foray into politics, and his ongoing work with veterans and mental health advocacy.

Netflix notes that the film does not shy away from controversy. Instead, it embraces a holistic view of Walker as a complicated, driven, and ultimately resilient figure.

### **Star-Studded Cast of Interviews**

*The Underdog* includes appearances and interviews from:

* **Nick Saban** – who calls Walker “the blueprint for the modern SEC athlete”
* **Bo Jackson** – “If I didn’t have Herschel to chase, I don’t become the player I became”
* **Tony Dorsett**
* **Kirk Herbstreit**
* **Robin Roberts**
* **Walker’s son, Christian Walker**
* Former teammates from the USFL’s New Jersey Generals and Dallas Cowboys

The film also includes commentary from sports psychologists, civil rights historians, and college football analysts to contextualize Walker’s impact beyond just football statistics.

### **The Trailer: Grit, Glory, and a Hint of Pain**

The trailer for *The Underdog* opens with grainy VHS footage of Walker sprinting past defenders as a teenager in Johnson County High School’s crimson jersey. It then cuts to fast-paced montages of the 1980 National Championship game, Walker raising the Heisman Trophy, and black-and-white photos of rural Georgia towns.

The closing shot features Walker, today, walking alone on the field at Sanford Stadium at sunrise. His voice echoes:

> “They said I couldn’t talk. They said I was too small. But God gave me legs—and a purpose.”

The final words on the screen: **“HE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT. SO HE BECAME UNSTOPPABLE.”**

### **Fans and Critics Already Buzzing**

Within two hours of the trailer’s release, #TheUnderdog trended across all major platforms. Georgia fans flooded X (formerly Twitter) with emotional responses:

> “I’m crying just from the trailer. Herschel is our GOAT. This is long overdue. Thank you @Netflix,” one user wrote.

Sports networks like ESPN and FOX Sports dedicated segments to the announcement, and multiple critics from early screening events have already dubbed the film “one of Netflix’s best sports documentaries to date.”

The Georgia Bulldogs football program also released a statement:

> “Herschel Walker’s legacy continues to inspire generations of Dawgs. We’re proud to see his journey honored in such a powerful way.”

### **Release Details and Special Events**

Netflix confirmed that *The Underdog* will premiere worldwide on **September 6, 2025**, available in 190+ countries and subtitled in over 20 languages.

To celebrate the release, the University of Georgia will host a **Red Carpet Premiere** at the Classic Center in Athens on **September 4**, with Walker expected to attend alongside alumni, former teammates, and current players.

The documentary will also be shown on a large outdoor screen outside **Sanford Stadium** the night before the Bulldogs’ first home game, which is expected to draw thousands of fans.

### **Final Word: “It’s Not Just About Football”**

As Netflix continues to expand its library of critically acclaimed sports documentaries like *The Last Dance*, *Quarterback*, and *Untold*, *The Underdog* adds a new layer to the genre—emotion, humanity, and an intimate portrait of a football legend who broke every mold.