| No. 59, 99 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1960-11-30)November 30, 1960 (age 65) Salem, Oregon, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Sheldon (Eugene, Oregon) | ||||||||
| College | Oregon | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1983: 2nd round, 50th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Michael David Walter (born November 30, 1960) is an American former professionalfootball player who was alinebacker in theNational Football League (NFL) for theSan Francisco 49ers andDallas Cowboys. He playedcollege football for theOregon Ducks.
Walter attendedSheldon High School, where he focused onbasketball, playing just one year offootball.[1] He was also a member of thetrack team. He was named the most valuable player in the state's football All-star game.
Walter attended theUniversity of Oregon where he was used as alinebacker, before being moved todefensive end as a sophomore.[2]
As a senior, he became the first-team captain in head coachRich Brooks' first six years at Oregon. He registered 13 sacks (led the team) and 18 tackles for loss (led the team). He also played in theEast–West Shrine Game and theJapan Bowl.[3]
Walter was selected by theDallas Cowboys in the second round (50th overall) of the1983 NFL draft, with the intention of converting him into anoutside linebacker.[4] In his new position he struggled covering the pass, so he wasn't used often.[5] On August 27,1984, he was waived at the end of training camp, after the Cowboys drafted fourlinebackers in the1984 NFL draft.[6]
On August 28,1984, he was claimed off waivers by theSan Francisco 49ers who moved him toinside linebacker, as the backup ofJack "Hacksaw" Reynolds.[7]
In1985, he became a starter, showing the versatility to play three downs on defense and alsospecial 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) and1989 (103).
Walter wasn't re-signed for the1994 season and was replaced byfree agentKen Norton Jr. He retired after winning threeSuper Bowls and playing 11 years in theNFL.
After football, he worked at Oak Tree Insurance. He has two daughters—a doctor and a business development executive, named Sarah and Allison.