Tag: Delanie Walker

Eight former Titans nominated for 2025 HOF class

The nominees for the 2025 Hall of Fame class have been released and there are eight former Tennessee Titans who received a nomination.

The nominations for the NFL’s 2025 Hall of Fame class have been announced and there are eight former Tennessee Titans who could be among those inducted next year.

Delanie Walker, former Titans’ tight end, is one of 16 players on the list who are in their first year of eligibility. The other Titans include quarterback Steve McNair, running back Eddie George, running back Chris Johnson, fullback Lorenzo Neal, wide receiver Derrick Mason, cornerback Samari Rolle and kicker Gary Anderson.

There are 167 modern-era players nominated for the 2025 Hall of Fame class, including 94 offensive players, 56 defensive players, and 17 special teams players.

Around mid-October, the Screening Committee will announce a reduced 50-player list, and the full 50-person Hall of Fame Selection Committee will reduce the list to 25 players. A second vote will trim the number to 15 before a list of 20 nominees are presented to the full Selection Committee.

Those 20 nominees will consist of 15 modern-era players, three Senior Finalists, a Coach’s Finalist, and a Contributor Finalist. There is no set number of people to enshrine each year, but the selection process bylaws state that four to eight players will be inducted.

The committee will meet next year before the Super Bowl to make a final vote on who will be inducted. To be inducted, finalists must receive 80% of the vote.

Ex-Titans TE Delanie Walker endorses ‘Mr. Mayonnaise’ Will Levis

Former Titans TE Delanie Walker is a believer in Will Levis and has a great nickname for him.

Former Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker is very much a believer in second-year quarterback Will Levis.

Walker was a guest with Kay Adams on “Up & Adams” on Tuesday morning and emphatically stated that Levis “is our guy.”

He also calls Levis “Mr. Mayonnaise.”

“I like what I’ve seen,” Walker said. “We think that Will is our franchise quarterback. We need players to help him out and I feel like we did that. We added so many guys on the outside that can make plays down the field, it’s exciting.

“I just think Will is excited about the situation, having some guys he can just throw the ball up to that can make plays for him. I think that’s big. I think he’s our guy, I’m excited to see what he can do this year. Again, we’ve just got to keep him healthy.”

Walker praised Levis’ willingness to put his body on the line to make plays and win games, something we saw against the Miami Dolphins last season.

However, he also said the Kentucky product needs to “calm down a little bit” in order to avoid injury, which is definitely accurate.

We love Levis’ toughness and competitive fire, no doubt, but both of those traits will do him no good if he’s injured.

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Delanie Walker weighs in on best TE in Titans history debate

Delanie Walker picks a side in the debate about the Titans’ best tight end of all-time.

The debate about the Tennessee Titans’ best tight end in franchise history has been ongoing for years now, and it recently got a boost when Titans great Delanie Walker announced his retirement this week.

On one side is Frank Wycheck, who spent nine years with the franchise and ended up as the most prolific pass-catcher at tight end in franchise history in terms of yardage. Then you have Walker, who spent seven years with the organization and finished No. 2 among tight ends in receiving yards.

Arguments can certainly be made for both; however, if you ask Walker, his answer is simple: it’s Wycheck.

“Frank Wycheck — I watched Frank and some of the stuff Frank did,” he said. “We’re two different tight ends. I can’t say that I am the best because what Frank has done for this organization is great too.

“So, I always put Frank in front of me. I would say I’m the second-best.”

No matter what side of the fence you’re on, there’s no doubt Titans fans have grown to appreciate these two players even more in recent years, as the team has been disappointing to inept at the position since Walker’s 2018 injury.

If only we could invent a time machine to bring peak Walker or Wycheck into 2022, the Titans would be far better off than they are now.

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Delanie Walker’s career with the Titans in photos

A look back at every year of Delanie Walker’s tenure with the Titans through photos.

One of the Tennessee Titans’ franchise greats officially hung up the cleats on Tuesday, as former tight end Delanie Walker announced his retirement this week.

The former 49er is arguably the greatest free-agent signing throughout the entire history of the Titans’ franchise. The Central Missouri legend is also considered by many as the best tight end to ever wear a Titans uniform.

Walker made three consecutive Pro Bowls during his time in Tennessee (2015-2017), tallying 381 catches for 4,423 receiving yards and 29 total touchdowns over his tenure.

In reality, the aforementioned debate is subjective, but what is undeniable is the type of impact Walker’s presence made in Tennessee both on and off the field.

During a time when the entire team lacked an identity in some of the darkest years this franchise has ever seen, Walker was always there to give the team some level of competency and legitimacy.

There were countless memories made over the seven years that we were fortunate enough to watch a legendary career unfold before our eyes.

So, before we close the book on an incredible career, let’s take a look back at the tenure of Titans great Delanie Walker in photos, from his first season in Nashville in 2013 through his last with the team in 2019.

Remembering the impact Delanie Walker made on the Titans

Shaun Calderon looks back at the legacy Delanie Walker leaves behind with the Titans.

Arguably the greatest free-agent signing in Tennessee Titans history officially called it a career on Tuesday. Franchise legend Delanie Walker announced he was retiring after 14 seasons in the NFL, seven of which were spent in Tennessee.

Walker played the first half of his career (2006-2012) with the San Francisco 49ers where he was primarily the No. 2 tight end behind Vernon Davis.

It wasn’t until Walker arrived in Tennessee that he was given the opportunity to be a full-time starter — and he did not disappoint.

During his time as a Titan, the Central Missouri product made three straight Pro Bowls from 2015-2017, earning Pro Bowl MVP in his final outing in 2017.

More importantly, Walker was an integral part of the Titans’ cultural shift that began in 2016. Prior to that, the perennial Pro Bowler was often leading by example on some really bad football teams.

It can’t be overstated enough that during a time when it seemed like no one cared about Titans football, including the front office group and most of its players, it was obvious that No. 82 always cared.

Throughout his first three seasons (2013-2015), the Titans only won a total of 12 games, seven of which occurred in 2013 alone.  Despite the lack of team success, the former Titan individually shined, giving the fans something to cheer for in the process.

Walker produced 217 receptions for 2,549 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns over those first three years.

Over the next two seasons (2016-2017), the Titans’ legendary tight end was a massive piece of the turnaround that included two consecutive winning seasons, along with the team’s first playoff appearance since 2008 and first playoff win since 2003.

The former Central Missouri star accounted for 1,607 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns over those two memorable seasons that finally brought the Titans back to relevancy.

The next two years were hard to swallow in regards to Walker’s great career.

The former Titans tight end suffered a brutal ankle injury in 2018 and wasn’t able to bounce back the following season, ultimately robbing him of the final chapter of his career that he truly deserved.

Nonetheless, the impact Walker left on the team and with the fanbase is still felt today. He was one of the first Titans players in a long time to set a high standard for themselves regardless of what was going on around them.

That mentality eventually translated to the entire team, which then carried over to the field on game days. In my personal opinion, he’s the greatest tight end to ever play for the Tennessee Titans.

The biggest shame in all this is that his prime was in the middle of a rebuilding era when the Titans definitely needed him, but Walker undoubtedly deserved something better.

However, one thing that gives fans some closure is the fact that the California native got to be a part of the Titans’ run to the AFC Championship back in 2019.

He may have been mostly injured that season, but if there was anyone from the previous era that truly deserved to be a part of that in any capacity, it was Tennessee’s veteran tight end.

Naturally, you can’t help but wonder what this era of Titans football would look like with peak No. 82 in the fold. Unfortunately, we’ll never know the answer to that.

His time in the NFL may be done, but Delanie Walker will always be the perfect embodiment of what a Tennessee Titan is supposed to be like.

On behalf of the entire fanbase, thank you for the awesome memories, Delanie. Enjoy the retirement you truly deserve.

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Delanie Walker’s former Titans teammates pay homage in tribute video

Delanie Walker’s former teammates paid homage to the Titans great in a tribute video on Tuesday.

Tennessee Titans franchise legend Delanie Walker officially retired from the NFL on Tuesday afternoon after a 14-year career that included three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances.

The Titans held a celebratory press conference yesterday to honor the culmination of a fantastic career in Tennessee, and as you would imagine, the outpouring of respect came flooding in from fans, former teammates, coaches, and colleagues.

Shortly after, the team’s social media account went on to release a special video for the Titans great, which included personalized messages from several familiar faces.

Among those who appeared in the video:

  • Marcus Mariota
  • Vernon Davis
  • Derrick Henry
  • Jurrell Casey
  • Wesley Woodyard
  • Taylor Lewan
  • Arthur Smith
  • Craig Stevens
  • Jonnu Smith
  • Kevin Byard
  • Brian Orakpo
  • Ben Jones

Practically everyone on this list mentions the type of impact Walker made on the field.

However, another common theme that stands out throughout these messages is how the Central Missouri product was universally considered to be one of, if not the greatest teammate that a lot of these guys have ever had, and off the field as well.

The full video can be seen in its entirety below:

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Kevin Byard reflects on Delanie Walker’s legacy with Titans

Kevin Byard believes Delanie Walker is one of the “one of the all-time great Titans.”

Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard was one of the many players who paid their respect to franchise great Delanie Walker after he announced he was retiring from the NFL on Tuesday.

Byard and Walker played with each other from 2016 through 2019. The two wound up going to the Pro Bowl together after a 2017 campaign that saw the Titans win their first playoff game since the 2003 season.

On Tuesday, the All-Pro safety elaborated on the type of impact that Walker had on himself, in the locker room, and obviously on the football field.

Byard emphasized how Walker was one of the veteran players who truly showed him how to be a professional by leading by example in everything he did.

The seventh-year veteran defender also mentions how impactful his practice reps against the legendary tight end used to be for him, and how much of a confidence booster it was for his younger self whenever he would win a rep against someone as revered as Walker.

Byard believes Walker’s legacy in Tennessee won’t be forgotten anytime soon, calling him “one of the all-time great Titans.”

Byard’s thoughts on Walker can be heard in the video by Titans beat writer, Jim Wyatt, posted below.

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Highlights from Delanie Walker’s retirement press conference

Delanie Walker officially called it a career in a press conference with the Titans on Tuesday.

One of, if not the greatest tight ends in Tennessee Titans franchise history officially announced his retirement on Tuesday.

Delanie Walker decided to hang up the cleats after 14 seasons in which he became arguably the best free-agent acquisition in Titans history.

Walker signed with the Titans prior to the 2013 season, and his impact on and off the field was undeniable throughout the course of his entire tenure (2013-2019).

During his time as a Titan, the Central Missouri product became a perennial Pro Bowler from 2015-2017, and even earned Pro Bowl MVP honors in his final all-star outing.

Walker finished his Titans career with 381 catches for 4,423 receiving yards and 29 total touchdowns.

The Titans held a press conference for the franchise great this afternoon in order to properly celebrate the culmination of a legendary seven-year career in the two-tone blue.

As you would expect, the day was filled with emotions and gratitude while also reflecting on a legendary career that could possibly lead to a spot in the Titans’ Ring of Honor someday.

Here are some highlights from his celebratory press conference:

Twitter gives Delanie Walker proper send-off after retirement announcement

Titans Twitter looked back on Delanie Walker’s time with the team fondly, and rightly so.

One of the Tennessee Titans’ franchise greats, tight end Delanie Walker, has officially retired from the NFL after 14 seasons and one heck of a career. Walker announced his retirement through the team on Tuesday.

The Titans will hold a retirement press conference for the 38-year-old at 2:30 p.m CDT the same day. Walker will also serve as one of the honorary 12th Titans on Sunday, along with former Houston Oilers quarterback Dan Pastorini.

“I remember when I got drafted in 2006, my family would ask me: How long do you think you’re going to play? I said, maybe eight years. Hopefully I can make it to eight,” Walker said.

“Playing this game, I did it for so long, I am so thankful. Honestly, I wish I could have played more, but injuries took place and there you have it.”

Walker was a bright spot during some dark years with the Titans and is one of the best to play the position in franchise history. He got the proper send-off from Titans Twitter upon his announcement. Check it out below.

Titans great Delanie Walker announces retirement from NFL

Titans great Delanie Walker will hold a retirement press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

After not playing in each of the past two seasons, former Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker has officially announced his retirement from the NFL after a 14-year career. The team will hold a press conference for its franchise great on Tuesday afternoon.

Walker spent seven seasons with the San Francisco 49ers before spending another seven with the Titans and said he was thankful for his time in Nashville and will be retiring as a Titan.

“I would say it worked out better than I could have imagined,” Walker said, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “I dreamt about it, and made it come to life because I believed it would. I knew once I had the opportunity, I wasn’t going to let it get away from me. Playing in Tennessee, with the Titans, it was better than I ever dreamed of, and I can’t thank the Titans organization enough for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to do everything I was able to do. It was a dream come true, to be honest with you.”

“When I came into this league, I wasn’t a big name, and I left this league with a big name and that just shows I worked hard for this,” Walker continued. “I worked hard to put myself on the map, and to prove to myself I was an elite player in this league.

“To be able to retire with the Titans means a lot because I feel like those were my best years. I am honored to go out as a Titan. They gave me the opportunity to play my best football and go out there and do what I do best, and that’s to be a dog. I am glad that I’m able to retire as a Titan.”

Walker was an absolute stud for the Titans and a bright spot during two of the worst years in franchise history. The 38-year-old tallied four seasons of 800 yards or more from 2014-2017, including a 1,000-yard season in 2015.

Walker went on to play in three Pro Bowls in that span and was considered one of the best at his position in the NFL.

“I want to congratulate Delanie on a fantastic NFL career,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said. “His impact on our team and in our community is undoubtedly one to be celebrated and set a standard for others. Very few players can say they were a four-time captain, went to three Pro Bowls and won the Community Man of the Year Award twice. He was a true professional in everything he did and was one of the key players who helped our organization reach the level of success that we have sustained for several years now. From a sixth-round selection by San Francisco to 504 receptions over 14 NFL seasons is quite a journey. Delanie will always be considered part of the Titans family, and we wish him continued success in the years to come.”

Unfortunately, a brutal ankle injury in 2018 derailed Walker’s career. The injury plagued Walker in 2019, also, leading to his playing in just four contests before being released the following offseason.

Regardless of how things ended, Walker will always be remembered for the excellent play, leadership and attitude he brought to this team, making him one of the best tight ends in franchise history.

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