Delanie Walker has not seen the field since 2019, but today marks the official end of his career. The 38-year-old tight end has retired from the NFL after 14 seasons evenly split between the 49ers and Titans. 
A 2006 sixth-round pick, Walker spent the first seven seasons of his career in San Francisco. He played an ancillary receiving role during his time in the Bay Area, though, never eclipsing 29 catches or three touchdowns in any one season there. His arrival in Tennessee as a free agent in 2013 was thus met with little fanfare relative to what he ultimately accomplished.
The Central Missouri State product’s first year as a Titan saw him set career-highs across the board in receiving, yardage and touchdown totals. He surpassed those figures during a three-year stretch from 2015-17, in which he was named a Pro Bowler each season. Across his first five campaigns in Nashville, Walker led the NFL in catches by a tight end; he ranks second in franchise history in that department with 381 receptions.
Ankle injuries derailed his final two seasons, however. Walker was limited to just eight games between 2018 and 2019. As a free agent in 2020, he drew interest from the Ravens and Patriots, but ultimately opted out of that season. He eyed a comeback last year, in which the 49ers hosted him for a potential reunion, but no deal materialized. Still, Walker looked back on his career in a positive light.
I would say it worked out better than I could have imagined,” Walker said of his time in Tennessee. “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 no surprise, Walker is hanging up his cleats as a member of the Titans. He lamented the lost time due his numerous ankle ailments, but his NFL tenure can widely be viewed as successful given his career ascent in its second chapter.
“Playing this game, I did it for so long, I am so thankful,” he added. “Honestly, I wish I could have played more, but injuries took place and there you have it.”
You were a great player and a wonderful 49er! He would’ve caught the pass that Woerner dropped last week. Thank you for being a great Niner!
Solid pro. Was a guy you knew they were looking for on their downs and in the red zone, but he would consistently get open and produce regardless.
cant believe he was still in the league. good for delanie
I remember watching him drop a pass near or in the endzone in one of his last 49er games, and turning and saying to my friend that that was why they would only use Walker as a blocker. Walker was very frustrated going back to the sidelines, and for some reason I removed that sort of standing out to me, the way that he was disappointed with himself. Then, he signed with the Titans and became arguably the best and most complete TE in the league (after Gronkowski, I suppose) for a solid few years with Tennessee.
I was glad to be wrong about his receiving ability. Walker was one of my favorite players to watch at that time-he did all the dirty work, and made critical plays when he needed to. Tough guy, really good player. Hats off to you, Delanie Walker.
So, is he referred to as the “Tennessee Walker?”