Malcolm Walker (American football)

Malcolm Walker (born May 24, 1943) is a former center in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at Rice University.

Early years

Walker attended South Oak Cliff High School. He went on to play at Rice University in 1966, where he was a two-way player and a three year starter, playing center on offense and linebacker on defense.

He was a two-time All-SWC selection (1963 and 1964), a first team (1964) and third team All-American (1963). As a senior he played in the East–West Shrine Game, the Senior Bowl and the Chicago College All-Star Game.

Walker was named one of the 55 greatest football players at Rice University and in 1976, he was inducted into the Rice Athletic Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Walker was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (10th overall) of the 1965 NFL Draft and also in the second round (19th overall) of the 1965 AFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. As a rookie he was placed on the injured reserve list, after suffering a knee injury while practicing for the Chicago College All-Star Game, which would affect him during his entire career (he had three knee operations).^[1]

In 1966, he was moved to tackle because of the depth at the center position and later was placed on the taxi squad, because he wasn't fully recovered from his previous injury.^[2] That season he appeared in only 5 games, playing mainly on special teams.

Walker became the team's starting center and played in all 14 games during the 1968 and 1969 seasons. In 1970, after playing with multiple injuries the previous year, he was traded along with Clarence Williams to the Green Bay Packers, in exchange for future hall of famer Herb Adderley.^[3][4]

Green Bay Packers

In 1970, he appeared in 11 games, with 4 starts, for the Green Bay Packers. He was waived after failing a physical for problems on his knee on July 20, 1971.^[5]

References