Derrick Walker

Derrick Norval Walker (born June 23, 1967) is an American former professional football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan as a tight end and inside linebacker from 1986 to 1989. He played professional football as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers (1990-1993), Kansas City Chiefs (1994-1997), and Oakland Raiders.

Early life Walker was born in Glenwood, Illinois, in 1967. He attended Bloom High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois.

University of Michigan Walker enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1985 and played college football for head coach Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1986 to 1989. After redshirting in 1985, he played at the inside linebacker position in 1986.

As a junior, Walker started two games, one at tight end and one at split end. As a senior, he was a team co-captain and started all 12 games at tight end for the 1989 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled a 10–2 in Schembechler's last season as Michigan's head coach. At the end of the 1989 season, Walker was selected as the first-team tight end on the 1989 All-Big Ten Conference football team. He caught 33 passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns during his time at Michigan. Walker became the Chargers' starting tight end from 1990 to 1993. He appeared in 60 games, 55 as a starter, and caught 98 passes for 979 yards and four touchdowns. In 2007, he was hired as a sports broadcaster for the Big Ten Network. but the two later divorced.

In July 2012, Walker sued the NFL alleging that the league failed to warn him about the risk of football-related concussions.