NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — Delaney Walker knew his broken ankle was bad when he felt no pain on the Miami field.
Not because of the shock. Nerve endings had been severed.
“At that point, I knew it was going to be difficult coming back from here,” Walker said Tuesday. He wanted to show the team that he gave his all to return to this field. And you see, it didn’t happen the way I wanted it to. ”
walker Broken ankle in 2018 season openerhis first game under his new head coach, Mike Vrabel. Rolled up as NFL’s longest gameWalker appeared in seven more games in 2019, and the three-time Pro Bowl tight end finally retired on Tuesday. NFL Fourteen seasons later—almost three years after his last game.
With a new job in the NFL’s legend community, Walker realized it was time for a transition.
“There’s no job like the NFL in the world,” Walker said. “So it took me a while to realize that I probably wouldn’t be able to play again. And then the moment I got my new job came and I realized it was time to cut it and I wanted to. and Tennessee Titans”
A sixth-round pick by Central Missouri in 2006 and 175th overall, Walker spent 14 years in the NFL, accumulating 504 catches for 5,888 yards and 36 touchdowns in 183 games. He spent his first seven his season with the San Francisco 49ers and had only his eight touchdowns behind Vernon his Davis.
Walker jumped at the opportunity in 2013 when Tennessee called on the California native to offer him the chance to become the Titans’ number one tight end. e led all NFL tight ends By 2017 there were 356 catches.
Walker was a four-time team captain and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2013 and his 2015, the team’s Walter Peyton was nominated for his NFL Man of the Year for activities such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
His 28 TD catches in Tennessee lead all tight ends in the franchise. Walker ranks his second in franchise history behind Frank Wycek, who has 381 receptions for which he has 4,423 receiving yards. Titans’ dominating owner Amy Adams Strunk celebrated Walker’s stellar career at a press conference at Nissan Stadium.
“Delaney will always be considered part of the Titans family and we wish him continued success,” Strunk said.
Titans general manager John Robinson recalled needing a map to find Central Missouri to scout Walker while working for the New England Patriots. Robinson said he couldn’t have been happier to have Walker on the Titans’ roster when he was hired by the General as his manager in January 2016.
“I’m proud to have worked with you, Delaney,” said Robinson. And I congratulate you on all that you have achieved. i am proud of you ”
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