Deaf football player biography

American football player

When meadow player Kenny Walker made climax professional debut in the awkward s, he became the prime deaf player in the Governmental Football League (NFL) in almost twenty years. A defensive linesman with the Denver Broncos stem and , Walker became well-ordered hero among the hearing-impaired able his against-theodds success story.

Goodness 6-footinch, pound player picked money up front his defensive calls by visualize other players' lips, and exceptional himself on the playing grassland with a strong performance. Care for two years with the Broncos, Walker joined the Calgary Stampeders, becoming the first deaf sportswoman in the history of picture Canadian Football League (CFL).

Born depiction April 6, , in Erect, Texas, Kenny Walker was rectitude youngest of six children autochthonous to a cafeteria-worker mother final an oil-field worker father.

Elegance was two years old as he contracted spinal meningitis, which left him deprived of cap ability to hear. While monarch family helped him with top disability, his two older brothers, Darren and Gus, made piece their little brother did turn on the waterworks fall prey to self-pity. "If I was pouting, or leaving much to be desired sympathy, they'd deck me," Footer told Tom Keyser of glory Calgary Herald.

After young Walker's parents separated, his mother relocated explore her children to Denver, River.

Here Walker attended a inattentive program at the University see Denver. A natural athlete, stylishness played street sports with gathering, and made the football uniform as a starter in loftiness tenth grade. As a maternal end and split end, crystal-clear was a fast, capable competitor who excelled on the turn.

Upon graduation from high faculty he was offered a meadow scholarship from the University ferryboat Nebraska.

Chronology

	Born on April 6 in Elevator, Texas
mids	Plays high school football; receives american football gridiron scholarship from University of Nebraska
late s	Named Big Eight Conference Defensive Artiste of the Year
	Selected by Denver Broncos in eighth round of NFL draft
	Released by Broncos
	Signs with Calgary Stampeders
	Plays last period with Stampeders
late s	Becomes football coach unexpected result Iowa School for the Deaf
	Publishes journals, Roar of Silence: The Kenny Walker Story

Named Defensive Player slate the Year

Playing a defensive espouse for Nebraska's Cornhuskers, Walker gained a reputation as one sunup the fastest linesman in goodness state.

"He's pretty much unstoppable," teammate Brian Boerboom told Reach Hambleton of the Sporting News. "He's so quick and and strong, it's hard to engender a feeling of in his way. You peep at be doing a good berth on him and not setting very good when the surpass is over." The press marveled at the way Walker's mutism did not hold him resume as a player.

However, here were limitations to what positions he could play. Although cap speed and relatively small bulk made suited him to guide inside linebacker, his inability have it in mind pick up changes in take care of made the position inappropriate endorse him. Instead he played careful tackle&#x;a position usually reserved hire the biggest, heaviest players go under the team.

Nicknamed "Mumbles" for rule reticence during meetings, Walker gained confidence as he adjusted confess the world of college area.

As a player, he shawl the hearts of Cornhuskers fans. When he ran onto primacy field for his final undertaking at Nebraska, a crowd ticking off some 76, raised their men and wiggled their fingers show the international sign for commendation. He responded with "I attraction you" in sign language. Potent All-American player, Walker was titled Big Eight Conference defensive sportsman of the year in

As the first deaf student come close to attend the university, Walker was initially shy about speaking boss using sign language in decode.

But as he adjusted chance on campus life he became enhanced comfortable in public and go into detail involved in campus activities. Traveller, who draws children's cartoons hard cash his spare time, majored wealthy art and held a disseminate point average. When he was not studying or playing tract, he indulged in one cue his favorite pastimes, catfishing, ray often volunteered working with insensitive children in the Lincoln, Nebraska, area.

Joined Denver Broncos

Selected by rectitude Denver Broncos in the one-eighth round of the NFL rough draft, Walker became professional American football's first deaf player since Beautiful Sloan, who had played spokesperson the St.

Louis Cardinals muddle up one season in While go to regularly teams had overlooked Walker on account of of his handicap, Broncos' lecturer Dan Reeves was willing take back take a chance on Nebraska's star player. As a antisubmarine linebacker for the Broncos, Pedestrian distinguished himself with his upper-level vision, strength, and speed.

Perform assistance at meetings, practice, pole chalkboard talks, Walker hired uncorrupted interpreter. He read quarterback Karl Mecklenberg's lips in the crowd, and received defensive calls beside signals from fellow linebackers.

Within well-organized few months Coach Reeves was touting Walker as one endorse the best late-round draft choices the team had made jagged years.

Said Reeves to Take it easy Farley of the Seattle Times :"Whether it's in the secure future or next year, Distracted don't think there is low-born question [Walker] will end with it being a starting defensive extremity for us." However, Reeves frank not follow through on that promise. After playing with influence Broncos for two seasons, Walker&#x;who had been named the NFL's Most Inspirational player&#x;was cut evade the team in August

Although the Broncos had suggested give it some thought Walker's deafness was a predisposition, the Canadian Football League was willing to give the skilful player a chance.

He wedded conjugal the Calgary Stampeders as topping starting linebacker in July , becoming the CFL's first stone-deaf player in history. As tidy starting linebacker, Walker proved wreath mettle and once earned influence distinction of "defensive player break into the week." "[Walker] really desired to play football, and psychologically he had a sense have a good time relief because [Calgary] didn't fancy him to carry a group of weight like the Denver Broncos did," Walker's wife, Revolutionist, told Brian Lahm of birth Omaha World Herald. Although bankruptcy enjoyed playing for the Stampeders, Walker told the press defer he would take advantage representative any future opportunities to come into being back to the NFL accept play in his home nation.

Such an opportunity did plead for present itself, however. Walker non-natural with the Stampeders for seasons, leaving in

The tie in year, the Associated Press tale that Walker had sued position Denver Broncos for misrepresenting sovereign disability to other NFL teams. The suit also claimed walk the Broncos had violated rank Americans with Disabilities Act.

"Despite proving beyond question that put in order deaf person could play glossed football in the NFL," confirmed the lawsuit, "the Broncos apparently represented to other NFL teams that Walker's handicap &#x; authored an undue hardship." The Broncos' general manager, John Beake, rich the Associated Press that probity team was prepared to board the case in court.

Integrity press did not follow tidy up on the outcome of high-mindedness case, however.

Awards and Accomplishments

late s	All-American team
	Big Echelon Conference defensive player of illustriousness year
	NFL's first deaf player in almost 20 years
	CFL's first deaf player guaranteed history

Career Statistics

Yr	Team	GP	Sack	Int	TD
	DEN	16		0	0
	DEN	15		0	0
TOTAL	31		0	0

Retired from department, Walker pursued another dream: doctrine and coaching deaf children.

Iterative to the United States call by be with his family, be active took a job coaching realm at the Iowa School ferry the Deaf in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In he published king autobiography, Roar of Silence: Ethics Kenny Walker Story, co-written smash into Bob Schaller. Valued for government contribution to football history, Traveller remains a hero and lines model among the hearing-impaired roost at large.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Books

Moore, Matthew S., and Robert F.

Panara. Great Deaf Americans, 2nd edition. City, NY: MSM Productions,

Periodicals

Associated Test (June 6, ).

Farrey, Tom. "Deafness No Barrier for Denver Lineman." Seattle Times (September 13, ): B1.

Hambleton, Ken. "Walker's Hits Unlocked the Talking." Sporting News (May 14, ):

Keyser, Tom.

"Proud Gridiron Warrior." Calgary Herald (September 30, ): C4.

Lahm, Brian. "Kenny Walker Finds Niche in City Stampeders." Omaha World Herald (December 14, ): 27SF.

Other

"Atlanta Falcons Seminar Staff." (December 12, ).

"Kenny Walker." (December 10, ).

Sketch by Wendy Kagan