Delanie Walker

Walker was drafted by San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round with the 175th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.[7] In his rookie season, he recorded two receptions for 30 yards and had a 25-yard kickoff return.[8]

In Week 13, Walker caught his first NFL touchdown from Trent Dilfer in a 31-14 loss to the Carolina Panthers,.[9] In the 2007 season, he recorded 21 receptions for 174 yards and a touchdown.[10]

Walker in 2008

On June 22, 2008, the 49ers signed Walker to a three-year, $6 million extension through 2012. The deal included a $1.8 million signing bonus. He also returned a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown in Week 4 of the 2008 preseason.[11] In 2008, Walker recorded 10 receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown.[12]

Walker in 2009

In 2009, Walker recorded 21 receptions for 233 yards as the 49ers finished with an 8–8 record.[13][14]

In 2010, Walker recorded 29 receptions for 331 yards as the 49ers finished with a 6–10 record.[15][16]

In 2011, Jim Harbaugh became head coach of the 49ers and Greg Roman became the offensive coordinator for the team. They praised Walker's skill set and used him a number of different ways in the West Coast Offense, including different receiver spots, backup fullback, and even as an alternative kickoff returner and gunner on special teams,[17] attributes that earned him the nickname of "The Swiss Army Knife" within the team. In the 2011 season, Walker recorded 19 receptions for 198 yards and three touchdowns as the 49ers finished with a 13–3 record.[18][19] In the postseason, Walker caught two passes for 36 yards before the 49ers lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game.

In 2012, Walker recorded 21 receptions for 344 yards and three touchdowns as the 49ers finished with an 11–4–1 record.[20][21] At the end of the 2012 season, Walker and 49ers reached Super Bowl XLVII. In the game, he had 3 receptions for 48 yards, but the 49ers lost to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 34–31.[22] Overall, Walker finished the postseason with five catches for 85 yards.

Walker signed with the Tennessee Titans on March 12, 2013[23] to a four-year $17.5 million contract with $8.6 million guaranteed.[24] In Week 11 of the 2013 season, against the Indianapolis Colts, Walker recorded 10 receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown.[25] In the 2013 season, Walker had 60 receptions for 571 yards and 6 touchdowns.[26]

In Week 2 of the 2014 season, against the Dallas Cowboys, Walker had a career day with 10 receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown.[27] In Week 12, against the Philadelphia Eagles, he recorded five receptions for a career-high 155 yards.[28] In the 2014 season, Walker had 63 receptions for 890 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Walker had a career year in 2015, shattering all Titans records for a tight end, including 1,088 yards receiving.[29] He had previously broken the Titans' tight end receiving yards record in the 2014 season with 890 yards. Walker led all NFL tight ends with 94 receptions and became only the ninth tight end to ever record 90+ catches in a single season. He was later named to his first career Pro Bowl. In Week 9, against the New Orleans Saints, he recorded his first career multi-touchdown game with seven receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns.[30] In Week 11, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he recorded 109 receiving yards for his third career game with at least 100 yards.[31] In Week 15, toward the end of a lopsided loss to the New England Patriots, Walker had a touchdown that would come off of a highlight-reel play. He caught a pass from quarterback Zach Mettenberger, broke two tackles, hurdled a man and stiff-armed another, all while racing down the sideline to the end zone to complete a 57-yard score. Walker recorded two catches, 64 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns in the 33–16 defeat.[32] Walker was ranked 82nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.[33]

On May 6, 2016, Walker signed a two-year contract extension worth $14.7 million with $8.2 million in guarantees.[34]

During Week 10 against the Green Bay Packers, Walker had nine receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.[35] In the 2016 season, Walker recorded 65 receptions for 800 yards and seven touchdowns.[36] Walker was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl on December 20, 2016.[37] He was also ranked 75th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.[38]

On September 17, 2017, Walker recorded his first rushing touchdown, a one-yard rush in the third quarter of a 37–16 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. In addition, he had four receptions for 61 yards.[39] In the 2017 season, Walker recorded 74 receptions for 807 yards, 3 receiving touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown. The Titans finished with a 9-7 record and made the playoffs as a Wild Card team.[40][41] During the Wild Card Round against the Kansas City Chiefs, Walker was the leading receiver, catching six passes for 74 yards.[42] In the Divisional Round against the New England Patriots, he caught three passes for 49 yards including a 36 yard catch and run during the first quarter in the 35–14 loss.[43] On January 16, 2018, Walker was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl to replace an injured Travis Kelce.[44] Walker was named the 2018 Pro Bowl offensive MVP after catching the game-winning touchdown, in addition to another touchdown he caught earlier in the game.[45] He was also ranked 72nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.[46]

On July 27, 2018, Walker signed a two-year contract extension with the Titans worth $17 million with $12.6 million in guarantees.[47]

In the season-opener against the Miami Dolphins, Walker had four catches for 52 yards before suffering an ankle injury in the fourth quarter. It was later revealed that he suffered a dislocated ankle and an associated fracture and would miss the rest of the season.[48] He was placed on injured reserve on September 10, 2018.[49] Without Walker, the Titans finished 9–7 for the third consecutive year and missed out on the playoffs.

Walker in 2019

Walker returned from his injury in time for the Titans' season opener against the Cleveland Browns. In that game, he recorded five receptions for 55 yards and two touchdowns as the Titans won on the road by a score of 43-13.[50] During a Week 4 24-10 road victory over the Atlanta Falcons, he reached 500 career receptions.[51] On November 27, 2019, he was placed on injured reserve after dealing with an ankle injury for most of the season.[52] Without Walker, the Titans finished 9–7 for the fourth consecutive year and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

On March 13, 2020, Walker was released by the Titans after seven seasons.[53]

On December 9, 2020, Walker was on the Pat McAfee show and stated that he was staying in shape and could probably play this year but with all the COVID-19 issues and with Dez Bryant being removed from warm-ups after testing positive and no one else was exposed despite photos of him with other players[54] he didn't want to play in 2020.[55]

• Most receiving touchdowns by a tight end: 28
• Most receptions in a season by a tight end: 94
• Most receiving yards in a season by a tight end: 1,088