Former Colts Diamond in the Rough Anthony Walker Jr. Retires

Former four-year Indianapolis Colts linebacker, Anthony Walker Jr., has announced his retirement after nine seasons in the NFL.

LB Anthony Walker Jr. has announced his retirement, via his IG.

Walker was a 5th-round pick of the Colts in 2017 and played nine NFL seasons — amassing 581 career tackles, 26 TFLs, 4 INTs and 21 passes defensed. pic.twitter.com/ggM8CWtr3p
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 2, 2026

Walker also had stops with the Cleveland Browns (2021-2023), Miami Dolphins (2024), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2025) before finishing his NFL tenure with the Colts' practice squad and, ultimately, the Buccaneers after they claimed him again on December 15th, 2025.

A former fifth-rounder out of the University of Northwestern in the 2017 NFL draft, Walker wasn't expected to be an outright starter to make a significant impact for Indy's defense.

However, once the 2018 season hit, Walker started to come into his own and became a reliable linebacker alongside then-rookie phenom, Shaquille Leonard.

That season, Walker started 14 out of 15 games played and compiled a respectable 105 tackles, 1.0 sacks, an impressive 10 tackles for loss, an interception, and four pass breakups.

Former Colts linebacker Anthony Walker (blue and white uniform) runs off the field after a defensive series ends. — Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Anthony Walker (54) walks off the field after a win as the Chicago Bears host the Indianapolis Colts at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. Indianapolis Colts Face The Chicago Bears In Chicago On Sunday Oct 4 2020 | Colin Boyle/IndyStar via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Walker followed this up with an even better performance in 2019, notching 124 tackles, 84 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, and three QB hits, all of which were his career-bests upon hanging up the cleats.

For his time with the Colts, he concluded with 343 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, and 11 pass breakups.

Walker is living proof that you don't need to be a high draft pick to survive in the NFL. You also don't need that draft tag to be a capable or above-average starter at the second defensive level.

General manager Chris Ballard has had a unique talent at picking up great linebackers on Days 2 and 3 of the NFL draft. Below are some notable names, including Walker, that the long-time Colts GM has acquired in April.

Shaquille Leonard - Second Round (2018)
Bobby Okereke - Third Round (2019)
Zaire Franklin - Seventh Round (2018)
Anthony Walker Jr. - Fifth Round (2017)
E.J. Speed - Fifth Round (2019)

In short, Ballard is great at drafting linebackers - and none of the aforementioned five names on that list were first-rounders, yet performed either above-average or outright incredibly.

Walker wouldn't be the stud with the Browns, Dolphins, or Buccaneers, he was with Indianapolis, but he still played solid football in his final five years outside of his time with the Colts.

Injuries truly had an impact on Walker after the 2021 season, which likely played a role in his decision to retire from a good NFL career.

When it was all said and done, Walker finished with the following statistics through 101 games and 83 starts.

581 tackles
26 tackles for loss
5.5 sacks
9 QB hits
4 interceptions
21 pass breakups
4 fumble recoveries
2 fumbles forced

Fast-forward to the Colts' current linebacker need after signing Akeem Davis-Gaither, and suddenly not having a first-round pick for this position doesn't seem as dire.

Ballard deserves a ton of criticism for some haplessness that's gone down heading into his 10th season as the general manager, but securing good linebackers isn't one of them.

The Colts may be quietly looking at Jaylon Carlies as a potential starting solution, but they'll undoubtedly add more depth in the upcoming draft.

Walker didn't have a superstar career, but for a fifth-round pick, he was an excellent addition to the Colts' defense during his starting years, and now gets to look forward to his post-NFL life.

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