Professional Football Player. Born Walter Jackson Burkett, he played both the linebacker and center position for three National Football League teams (Baltimore Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Dallas Cowboys) during a ten year career (1961-1970). He played football collegiately at Auburn University where he earned several conference honors and was a star of the their 1957 National Championship team. He was drafted by both the Baltimore Colts in the first round of the 1959 NFL Draft with a future draft pick and the New York Titans in the 1960 American Football League draft. He decided to join the Colts and missed his rookie season in 1960 due to injury. He came back the next season and played for the Colts for the next six seasons. He was selected by the new expansion team New Orleans Saints in the 1967 NFL Expansion Draft and went on to play for them for one season before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys. He played for the Cowboys for two seasons before being traded back to the Saints on June 23, 1970. He played for them during the 1970 season and was the long snapper who snapped the ball when kicker Tom Dempsey kicked his record 63-yard field goal on November 8, 1970. He retired after the 1970 season and later owned a restaurant in New Orleans. He also served as a county commissioner in Fort Walton Beach, Florida from 2000 to 2008. In 1988, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. He also was named to the Auburn All-Century football team and Walk of Fame. He passed away from leukemia.
Professional Football Player. Born Walter Jackson Burkett, he played both the linebacker and center position for three National Football League teams (Baltimore Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Dallas Cowboys) during a ten year career (1961-1970). He played football collegiately at Auburn University where he earned several conference honors and was a star of the their 1957 National Championship team. He was drafted by both the Baltimore Colts in the first round of the 1959 NFL Draft with a future draft pick and the New York Titans in the 1960 American Football League draft. He decided to join the Colts and missed his rookie season in 1960 due to injury. He came back the next season and played for the Colts for the next six seasons. He was selected by the new expansion team New Orleans Saints in the 1967 NFL Expansion Draft and went on to play for them for one season before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys. He played for the Cowboys for two seasons before being traded back to the Saints on June 23, 1970. He played for them during the 1970 season and was the long snapper who snapped the ball when kicker Tom Dempsey kicked his record 63-yard field goal on November 8, 1970. He retired after the 1970 season and later owned a restaurant in New Orleans. He also served as a county commissioner in Fort Walton Beach, Florida from 2000 to 2008. In 1988, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. He also was named to the Auburn All-Century football team and Walk of Fame. He passed away from leukemia.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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