Instead, Anderson signed to play for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL in 1983 after a college football career at the University of Arkansas.

In 1985, Anderson signed with the NFL's San Diego Chargers and was used primarily as a backup running back and kick returner.

He continued to be a reserve and special teams player for the Chargers until 1988, when he became the starting running back and rushed for 1119 yards on 225 carries.

In 1995, Anderson came out of retirement to play in the CFL for the expansion Memphis Mad Dogs where he joined a man who coached against him in the USFL, Pepper Rodgers.

When the US teams folded, the Saskatchewan Roughriders selected him the 12th round of the dispersal draft, but released him prior to the start of the 1996 season.