Michael Walter (American football)
| No. 59, 99 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth: | November 30, 1960 | ||
| Place of birth: | Salem, Oregon | ||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Weight: | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Sheldon (Eugene, Oregon) | ||
| College: | Oregon | ||
| NFL Draft: | 1983 / Round: 2 / Pick: 50 | ||
| Career history | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
Michael David Walter (born November 30, 1960) is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League for eleven seasons for the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Oregon.
Early years
Walter attended Sheldon High School (Eugene, Oregon), where he focused on basketball, playing just one year of football.[1] He attended the University of Oregon where he was used as a linebacker, before being moved to defensive end as a sophomore.[2] As a senior he was the team captain for the 1982 season and also played in the east East–West Shrine Game.[3]
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Walter was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (50th overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft, with the intention of converting him to an outside linebacker.[4] In his new position he struggled covering the pass, so he wasn't used often.[5] The next year he was waived at the end of training camp, after the Cowboys drafted four linebackers in the 1984 NFL Draft.
San Francisco 49ers
On August 28, 1984, he was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco 49ers who moved him to inside linebacker, as the backup of Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds.[6]
In 1985, he became a starter, showing the versatility to play three downs and also special teams. He would go on to have a 10-year career with the 49ers, while leading the team in tackles in three consecutive seasons: 1987 (94), 1988 (97) and 1989 (103).
Walter retired at the end of the 1993 season, after winning three Super Bowls and playing 11 years in the NFL.
Personal life
After football he worked at Oak Tree Insurance. His wife is a special education teacher at Conestoga middle school in Beaverton Oregon.
References
- ↑ "Settling into a special defense". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Oregon Ducks Football: Best Defensive Linemen of All-Time". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Walter named Oregon captain for season". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Walter taken in second round". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Leveling off". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2016.