Wayne Walker facts for kids
Wayne Harrison Walker (born September 30, 1936 – died May 19, 2017) was a famous American football player and later a sports broadcaster. He was born in Boise, Idaho.
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Wayne Walker's Football Journey
Wayne Walker played for fifteen seasons with the Detroit Lions in the National Football League (NFL). He played from 1958 to 1972. He had two important roles on the team: a linebacker (who helps stop the other team) and a placekicker (who kicks the ball for points).
Playing for the Detroit Lions
Wayne played in 200 regular season games. At that time, this was the second-highest number of games for a defensive player. He was a very important part of the Lions' defense for many years.
Amazing Achievements
Wayne Walker was chosen to play in three Pro Bowls. These are special all-star games where the best players from different teams play together. He was also picked three times as one of the best players in the entire NFL. This means he was a "first-team All-NFL player."
Life After Football
After the 1972 season, Wayne stopped playing football. He then started a new career in sports broadcasting.
Becoming a Sports Broadcaster
From 1974 to 1994, Wayne worked for CBS as a sports broadcaster. He also became the sports director for KPIX-TV in San Francisco. This meant he was in charge of all the sports news at that TV station. Even while he was still playing for the Lions, he sometimes worked as a sportscaster during the off-season.
Honored in Idaho
In December 1999, Sports Illustrated magazine made a list of the greatest sports figures from Idaho. Wayne Walker was ranked ninth on this special list.
Later Years and Health
In June 2007, Wayne Walker faced a health challenge. He was diagnosed with throat cancer. He lost 60 pounds after having special treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. In 2015, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which affects movement. Wayne Walker passed away on May 19, 2017, in Boise, Idaho. He was 80 years old, and his death was due to problems from Parkinson's disease.
