Tennessee Titans Great Delanie Walker Takes One Last Lap at Nissan Stadium on the Day He Announced His Retirement
NASHVILLE – Delanie Walker of made a victory lap on Tuesday.
On the day the previous Titans tight cease introduced his retirement from the NFL, Walker made one ultimate walk via Nissan Stadium, and he soaked all of it in.
Before his press convention even began out, Walker walked via the group of journalists who grew to become out on Tuesday and shook each hand, thanking every certainly considered one among them for coming.
After listening to tributes from Titans General Manager Jon Robinson and Vice President of Broadcasting Mike Keith, Walker spent the subsequent 20 mins reminiscing on a profession he loved so much, recalling teammates, coaches and his favorites moments in the course of his 14-12 months profession.
Walker, carrying customized footwear that have been a present from former teammate Marcus Mariota, then made the rounds at his vintage stomping grounds.
He stopped through the locker room, in which his jersey, shoulder pads and helmet hung in his vintage locker, a mocked up gameday look.
He then strolled down the tunnel and made his manner onto the field, in which he watched a video tribute from his former teammates, thanking Walker for his efforts and contributions as a teammate, and a friend. Former teammate and modern Titans protecting lineman Jeffery Simmons stood beside him, along side own circle of relatives and friends.
It ended with a photo, and those phrases at the stadium`s large video boards: “Thank You Delanie Walker.”
Walker smiled and did his great to maintain from breaking down in tears.
It changed into all a part of an eventful day for one of the finest gamers in Titans history.
“I were attempting now no longer to cry – I’m now no longer the only to cry,” Walker stated on the begin of his press convention. “I am going to take a seat down right here and let you know how I sense, and I need to start out through thanking the Adams own circle of relatives, the Titans organization, for giving me the possibility to return back right here in 2013.
“… I recognise no person knew who I changed into once I got here right here, and that they possibly thought: Why did we get this guy? But the men that have been right here, the coaches, the staff, they believed in me and stated: It’s all as much as you. You have a danger to be first-rate and take it and run with it. I checked out that as an possibility. I knew what I ought to do on this league, and I simply wanted the possibility to have that danger to expose it, and the Titans gave me that possibility. And it really is why I am right here to retire (a Titan), due to the fact I sense like my great years in soccer began out right here, right here in Tennessee. … I am so grateful to have this possibility to retire as a Titan.”
Walker made the maximum of his possibility, and his profession.
Tuesday’s retirement capped his a 14-12 months NFL profession. After his first seven seasons (2006-12) with the San Francisco 49ers, he signed with the Titans and spent the very last seven years (2013-19) in Tennessee.
With the Titans, Walker have become one of the maximum prolific tight ends withinside the NFL.
In 14 seasons, Walker recorded on 504 receptions for 5,888 yards and 36 touchdowns in 183 games. During his Titans profession, Walker changed into a three-time Pro Bowl selection (2015, ’16, ’17), a four-time captain and twice (2013, 2015) decided on as a team’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.
“The first seven years went fast,” Walker stated if his days with the 49ers. “But gambling my ultimate seven years, it felt like forever, due to the fact I cherished in which I changed into at, I cherished the men that have been withinside the locker room, and I failed to need it to cease.”
Check out greater films and highlights from Walker’s memorable day below: