Jackie Walker (American football, born 1950)
| No. 52 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | April 14, 1950 Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died: | December 5, 2002 (aged 52) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Knoxville (TN) Fulton |
| College: | Tennessee |
| NFL draft: | 1972: 6th round, 148th pick |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Jackie Eugene Walker (April 14, 1950 – December 5, 2002) was an American football linebacker who played for the University of Tennessee from 1969 to 1971. A two-time All-American, he was the first black captain of a Southeastern Conference squad. Walker shares the NCAA record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown, with five. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 1972 NFL draft, but was cut before the season.
In the years following his death, Walker's supporters campaigned to have him inducted into local and national halls of fame, arguing he has been denied such recognition because he was gay.