- Everson Walls
Infobox NFLretired
|position=Cornerback
number=24, 28
birthdate=birth date and age|1959|12|28Dallas, Texas
deathdate=
debutyear=1981
finalyear=1993
undraftedyear=1981
college=Grambling State
teams=
*Dallas Cowboys (1981-1989)
*New York Giants (1990-1992)
*Cleveland Browns (1992-1993)
stat1label=INT
stat1value=57
stat2label=INT yards
stat2value=504
stat3label=Games
stat3value=186
nfl=WAL543048
highlights=
* 4xPro Bowl selection (1981, 1982, 1983, 1985)
* 4x All-Pro selection (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985)
* 1xSuper Bowl champion (XXV)
*
* Led NFL in interceptions in 1982 with 7
* Led NFL in interceptions in 1985 with 9
HOF=Everson Collins Walls (born
December 28 ,1959 inDallas, Texas ) is a formerAmerican football cornerback in the NFL, having played for theDallas Cowboys , theNew York Giants , and theCleveland Browns . During his 14 seasons, he was a four-timePro Bowl selection. He was also a 3-time All-Pro selection. Walls won aSuper Bowl with the Giants after the 1990 season.Youth and college
Walls was born and raised in northern Dallas. He was nicknamed "Cubby" and he was raised by his mother two miles from the Cowboys practice facility. He didn't start playing football until his senior year at
Lloyd V. Berkner High School inRichardson, Texas . That season, he led the district in interceptions.Walls was determined to play
college football , and after high school, he enrolled atGrambling State University . At the time, his girlfriend was related to an assistant coach, whom Walls called regarding a walk-on spot. Walls was eventually invited to training camp and impressed legendary coach Eddie Robinson, who arranged to meet with Walls' mother about granting Walls a scholarship. Walls received a full ride and did not disappoint, earningDivision I-AA All-America honors while leading the nation with 11 interceptions his senior year.NFL years
Early NFL career
Pro scouts thought he was too slow for the NFL after he ran the 40-yard dash in a disappointing 4.72 seconds during workouts. Eventually, however, his hometown Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent, and he made an immediate impact, leading the league in interceptions with 11 during his rookie season. Walls received a Pro Bowl invitation for his contributions.
Coached by the legendary
Tom Landry , the Cowboys reached the NFC Championship game that season, where they faced theSan Francisco 49ers . In a tightly contested game that went back and forth, Walls had an outstanding game, with seven tackles, three deflected passes, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Despite his efforts, he was on the short end of "The Catch," one of the greatest plays in NFL history. Walls covered 49erswide receiver Dwight Clark in the end zone whenJoe Montana threw a high pass that Clark caught with his fingertips. The touchdown gave the 49ers the lead and the eventual victory. Clark's catch with Walls looking on was a cover photo forSports Illustrated that week.Dallas years
Surrounded by an already star-studded defensive unit, which included Randy White, Ed "Too Tall" Jones,
Harvey Martin , andCharlie Waters , Walls continued his outstanding play by leading the league in interceptions in two more seasons, in 1982 and 1985. He received Pro Bowl honors each of those years, and made it again in 1983. During this time, however, the Cowboys were unable to reclaim their dominance in the league, as they lost the NFC title game in 1982 and fell short again in 1983 and 1985. Despite this, Walls remained one of the most feared cover cornerbacks in the league; eventually, quarterbacks were forced to stop throwing the ball to his side. Everson also was known for his contract disputes with the Cowboys, which were eventually settled in 1987, when Walls was given a three-year deal worth 5.05 million. This made him the second-highest paid cornerback in the league. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE4D6153AF933A15756C0A961948260|title=Comings and Goings|accessdate=2007-01-11]Later years
In 1990, Walls joined the New York Giants, signing a two-year deal worth over one million [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7DB1E3EF933A05757C0A966958260|title=Cowboys' Walls Is Joining Giants|accessdate=2007-01-11] and became a starter for the team, which featured another standout defensive squad with
Lawrence Taylor ,Leonard Marshall , andCarl Banks . Coached byBill Parcells , with defensive coordinatorBill Belichick , the Giants posted a 13-3 record and reached the NFC Championship game, where they traveled to San Francisco to face the two-time defending Super Bowl champion 49ers. With a late field goal, the Giants were able to pull off the upset, 15-13, to advance toSuper Bowl XXV , where they met the AFC championBuffalo Bills . During the game, Walls made a critical play when he tackledThurman Thomas in the open field with less than two minutes to play - a tackle that likely stopped a sure touchdown for the Bills. The Giants would win the Super Bowl, 20-19, onScott Norwood 's missed field goal attempt as time ran out. Walls received another Sports Illustrated cover photo as he was captured with his arms raised in victory after the Giants won the game.In the twilight of his career, Walls' numbers began to diminish, as he recorded only seven interceptions in his final three seasons. He was traded to the
Cleveland Browns during the 1992 season and would play 13 games for them before retiring in 1993.Legacy
Walls is one of the most prolific and decorated defensive backs to ever play the game. He is the only three-time season leader in interceptions. He also led his Cowboys in interceptions a franchise record five times, and was 10th all-time on the career interceptions list when he retired, with 57. In addition, he shares the career Pro Bowl interceptions record with four, and shares the single-game Pro Bowl record for interceptions with two. With experience under Eddie Robinson, Tom Landry, Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, Walls has had the privilege of working for some of the all-time greatest coaches.
Despite his accolades, Walls remains an outsider to the
Pro Football Hall of Fame . Most recently he was a preliminary nominee for the Class of 2006, but he has yet to crack the list of semi-finalists. For years, Walls has stated that he believes his untimely position during Dwight Clark's miracle catch tarnished his otherwise outstanding pro careerFact|date=February 2007. This did not impact his collegiate stature, as on December 6, 2006, it was announced that Walls would be inducted into theSouthwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. [cite web|title = Walls to enter SWAC Hall of Fame| url= http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061207/SPORTS/612070343/1006 | accessdate = 2006-12-12] On Tuesday, December 12, 2006, it was announced that Walls will donate a kidney to former Cowboys teammateRon Springs , who has diabetes. [cite web|title = Everson Walls to give former teammate a kidney | url=http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=sports&id=4844965 | accessdate = 2006-12-12] The surgery was completed in March 2007. [cite web|url=http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/16867614.htm |title=Former Cowboys teammates forever linked after transplant|accessdate=2007-03-11]Awards
*Division I-AA first team All-American (1980-81 season)
*Grambling State University Athletic Hall of Fame (1998)
*Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (1998)
*NFL Defensive Back of the Year (1982)
*NFL Pro Bowl (1981-83, 1985)
*Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame (2003)
*SWAC Hall of Fame (2006)
*Tom Landry Award (2007)References
External links
* [http://www.eversonwalls.com The Official Website of Everson Walls (www.eversonwalls.com)]
* [http://www.myspace.com/eversonwalls24 Official Everson Walls MySpace]
* [http://blackvoices.aol.com/newsmain/sports/superbowlxxxix/eversonwalls In Their Own Words: Everson Walls (aol.com)]
* [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/1997/12/15/SP57665.DTL The Catch - 49ers finally put away Cowboys To begin their Super Bowl run (sfgate.com)]
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