Wesley Walker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wesley Walker

Walker playing for the Jets in 1981
No. 85
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1955-05-26) May 26, 1955 (age 70) San Bernardino, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	179 lb (81 kg)
Career information
High school:	Carson (CA)
College:	California
NFL Draft:	1977 / Round: 2 / Pick: 33
Career history
New York Jets (1977–1989)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Pro (1978) 2× Pro Bowl (1977, 1982) NFL receiving yards leader (1978) PFWA All-Rookie Team (1977) New York Jets Ring of Honor Second-team All-Pac-8 (1975, 1976)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 438 Receiving yards: 8,306 Receiving touchdowns: 71
Player stats at PFR

Wesley Darcel Walker (born May 26, 1955) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver for the New York Jets in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Jets from 1977 to 1989.

Early Life and College Sports

Wesley Walker grew up in Carson, California. He went to Carson High School. There, he set many records for catching passes and returning kicks.

After high school, he played college football for the California Golden Bears. He caught 86 passes for over 2,200 yards. He also scored 22 touchdowns during his four years. This meant he averaged about 25.7 yards for every catch!

Walker was also a talented track and field athlete. He helped his college team finish second in a big relay race in 1975.

Becoming a Professional Football Player

Joining the New York Jets

In 1977, Wesley Walker was chosen by the New York Jets in the NFL draft. He was picked in the second round. A special person named Connie Carberg helped the Jets choose him. She was the first female scout in NFL history.

Walker's first few games were a bit slow. But on October 2, he caught his first touchdown pass. Later that month, he had a huge game against the Oakland Raiders. He gained 178 yards on just four catches and scored another touchdown. In his first year, he caught 35 passes for 740 yards.

Breaking Out as a Star

The next year, 1978, was amazing for Walker. In the first game, he caught two touchdowns and gained 108 yards. He had several other games where he gained over 100 yards.

He finished the 1978 season with 48 catches for 1,169 yards. He also scored eight touchdowns. He averaged an incredible 24.3 yards per catch! Because of his great performance, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl. He was the first Jets player to lead the league in receiving yards since Don Maynard.

Dealing with Injuries

In 1979, Walker played in only nine games. He caught 23 passes for 569 yards and five touchdowns. He got a knee injury that ended his season early.

He also had injuries in 1980. He sprained his neck before the season started. Then, he missed six games with a deep bruise in his thigh. He still managed to catch 18 passes for 376 yards.

Return to Form and Playoff Runs

In 1981, Walker played in 13 games. He caught 47 passes for 770 yards and nine touchdowns. He played in his first playoff game, but the Jets lost.

The 1982 season was shorter because of a player strike. But Walker still played well in nine games. He caught 39 passes for 620 yards and six touchdowns. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl again. In one game, he scored three touchdowns!

During the playoffs that year, he was fantastic. He caught eight passes for 145 yards and a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. Then, he had seven catches for 169 yards and another touchdown against Los Angeles.

His best season for catches was in 1983. He had 61 receptions for 868 yards and eight touchdowns.

Later Career and Retirement

Walker continued to play well in the mid-1980s. In 1986, he had a career-high 12 touchdowns. In one game against Miami, he scored four touchdowns! Two of these were the game-tying and game-winning scores in a wild 51-45 victory.

The Jets made the playoffs several times with Walker. He helped them win games in the playoffs.

In 1987, a player strike affected the season. Walker also separated his shoulder and missed most of the year. He had ankle problems in 1988, which limited his playing time.

The Jets released Walker in 1990, and he retired soon after.

Walker's Legacy

Wesley Walker was known for his amazing speed. He often averaged over 20 yards per catch. He was also legally blind in his left eye, which makes his achievements even more impressive!

He retired as one of the Jets' all-time best players. He caught 438 passes for 8,306 yards and 71 touchdowns. These numbers are second only to Don Maynard in Jets history.

In 2012, Wesley Walker was honored by the Jets. He was inducted into the New York Jets Ring of Honor.

NFL Career Statistics

Here are Wesley Walker's statistics from his time in the NFL.

Regular Season Stats

Playoff Stats

Life After Football

After retiring from football, Wesley Walker became a physical education teacher. He taught at Park View Elementary School in Kings Park, New York. He also sometimes works as a commentator on sports radio shows.

He has two sons and a daughter. His older son, John, was a great lacrosse player at The United States Military Academy at West Point. His younger son, Austin, played lacrosse at Johns Hopkins University. Walker is also the godfather to Alexandra Florant, whose father is a famous track and field athlete.

Like many former NFL players, Walker has some health issues from his playing days. He talked about these in an interview in 2016. He graduated from Mercy College.

In 2000, Wesley Walker was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island.