The Delanie Walker Story: Triumph, Tragedy & the Injury That Changed Everything | Titans Uncut Ep. 2

I'm Brad Brian. He is number 82, Delaney Walker. And you got a really good start to this show last week as your compadres, Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, also known as Busting with the Boys, brought the party. They always do. That was fun. Yeah. I mean, you know, I I actually wanted those guys to come on first just because the, you know, I'm comfortable with them. Um, and I consider those guys some of my best teammates. I know I didn't play with Will long, but Will came into this locker room and he just he made his presence felt, right? Everyone whoever played with Will tell you like Will is one of the best teammates. And then and then Taylor, we just had a bond I think is unmatched, right? Um, some people who who know me will say, uh, you know, do do I think it was Phil Supernol that was like my best friend? Yes, I would say that. >> Phil Supernov, >> but I I just knew those guys were going to be great and and and was going to open up and be able to talk and share their story and uh that's what I wanted for the first episode. >> Well, and we you set an excellent tone. You did a great job interviewing your compadres there and we will have more guests on this show. No doubt about it. I thought this episode should be cuz it is your show. It should be about Delaney Walker, Delaney Walker story. The Titans fans, they know about all of those great catches, the Pro Bowls, the captaincy, first downs, touchdowns, but we want to tell Delaney Walker's story in this. And I think that's a way to get this one going. And then we'll get back to guests uh very, very soon. But I want to talk to you about your journey here because I feel like you were used in so many ways with the San Francisco 49ers in that draft in 2020 in 2006. They had um had already taken a tight end very early in Vernon Davis. I remember being in Radio City Music Hall in New York City when they took him and he was there cuz the Titans took Vince Young in that draft. And then here you are at pick 175 later on. And I know you talked about, you know, learning how to play special teams and all that, but you made a name for yourself doing just that. When you signed with the Titans back in 2013, did you honestly think that you'd become one of the best tight ends in football? You know, honestly, I and I know people who know me, you know, I don't want this to seem like cocky or anything like that, but I knew my day was coming. You know, I knew all I needed was a fresh a fresh start. I wouldn't even say a fresh start. Obviously, um being in San Francisco, they gave me the opportunity to to showcase my skills. But when I say fresh start is I needed to go somewhere. They didn't consider uh Vernon Davis as their number one. and um >> and get right back into the same thing. >> And get right back into the same thing. Me blocking him catching passes like I you know I hate to say this because you know old lineman's that's all they do is block but the catcher always get the glory right. So when I came to Tennessee I just saw a opportunity and that's what I base my life on is opportunities. When I have those opportunities what do you do with them? do you capitalize on them or do you just have an opportunity that goes away? So when I when I stepped foot in in Tennessee and got to speak to all the offensive coordinators, the the head coach, they were telling me like you can be the man if that's what you choose to do. Grab it and take it. So I I was like that's what I'm going to do. I'm gonna show you. And I know people probably the fans outside didn't really understand like why did they take Delaney Walker? He had 30 catches out of in seven years. Like what is he going to do differently? Um so that was everything I put in the bucket and I carried that on my back every day like I got to be different than that and I got to show it quickly. So um yes, I believed when I got here I was gonna be a star. did leaving San Francisco, which you spent so much time there and stacked a a different um for lack of a better term, a different chapter in your professional career. Did that leaving that feel like a gamble? I mean, you bet on yourself ultimately, but did it feel like a gamble? >> It always felt like a gamble because you you have the GMs and the coaches always saying it ain't greener on the other side. It's not prettier on the other side. This is a fivestar organization. So, I'm hearing this from the 49ers telling me every organization ain't the same. You may not have the opportunities that you think you have. You should be here with the coaches who grew you. Like, so you always have that doubt like, dang, a new chapter. What do I have to do? I'm a seven-year vet. Am I going to have to do all everything all over again to prove myself to these coaches? What you have to? Some dudes can buy into that. Some dudes don't. So, I had doubt, but like I said, when I got here, I felt like the players accepted me, right? The players, they accepted me. Even though I wasn't a star, they accepted me as the player who I was. And every day, I went to work and showed them who I was by competing, by taking charge, by practicing every day. So the doubt was there, but it started to disappear as I as I practiced or I was around the team more and more. >> Yeah. And you got out on the playing field and you notched, you know, big performances. You mentioned a minute ago um why would the Titans sign you? You had 30 catches, all those kinds of things. What's the biggest thing that people got wrong about Delaney Walker at that point in your career? >> Oh, that I couldn't catch. Everyone knew I could run routes and I was fast and I was explosive. I was physical. They all saw those things because I played special teams and and I did all of that in the in the on the special teams. And then in the run game, I was a a key factor, you know, I played multiple positions on in offense just to block. Um but I didn't catch the ball very much. And then some of the opportunities I had, I dropped them. I did I dropped passes um when I was in San Francisco and and with that to be said it's sometimes it's like it's unfamiliar when you don't do it a lot and then your number get called. You want to make that play but nerves it just settles in. So like everyone thought I couldn't catch. That was like my biggest knock. Like he cannot catch. Yes, he's fast, he's physical, he can do all the things when the ball's in his hand, but will he catch it? And uh I think that's what everyone thought about me at at that time. >> You said the people here in the Titans organization at the time and in luring you here as a free agent that you can be the man if you want to and you seize that. Um where was the moment when you said I can be the man? Because it had to be more than just them saying that. like you had you had San Francisco in your ear telling you you should stay here and you know loyalty and all that and then you have somebody courting you cuz they know that you have a skill set but you have a lot to show. >> Yeah. You know I wouldn't even say it was coming to the Titans. I think I believed it before I even came to the Titans after that Super Bowl game. I don't know what it was. I don't even know what I took, smoked, drank. I [laughter] don't know. It was I was just 01. I was on a whole another level. I And I think that performance alone in Super Bowl what had teams interested in me like wanting to have me on the team. I I don't know what it was. I just maybe those big games and you know I hate to say some people, you know, players are gamers and I hate using that word like I'm I'm a gamer. But when those lights came on in the Super Bowl, I transformed into something that I've never been before. And after that game, >> despite the lights going out, >> despite the lights going out, despite all everything that happened in that Super Bowl, at the end of it, even though we lost, I can just remember other players, other teammates of mine, coaches calling me my phone. I had over a thousand mis people was like, "Oh, bro, who were you? where did that come from? And I knew I'm like that's me. That's me all that's who I always been, you know, when I play receiver, when I was really confident at what I was doing. Like moving to tight end, obviously it took step back. I was drafted as a receiver and moved to tight end. So like I had to really grasp how to become a tight end, how to understand it. And I figured like in that Super Bowl, I I figured it out. I really figured it out. >> And it allowed you to showcase that to the entire world. Yes. On the biggest game. Yes. >> Biggest stage that this sport has. >> Yes. >> And I think about what happened after that Super Bowl >> cuz it was great joy, but it was great sadness with your aunt and your uncle. >> Yeah. >> And you became a spokes spokes spokesman for MAD. But >> your aunt and uncle were killed by a drunk driver. >> Yeah. Yeah. you know, that's the tough part about um that Super Bowl because like you said, like even though I I had the the best game I ever had in my opinion, um it didn't matter, right? It didn't matter to me. It didn't matter to my family. Um because we lost someone in our family that day. Two people. We lost two people. my aunt and uncle. And you know, I didn't know that it had happened at the time. Um, and you know, to this day, I still I I still picture him and, uh, I can remember after the party, uh, Snoop Dogg was there performing and my aunt was like, "Oh my god, Snoop Dog." I'm like, "You want to meet him?" You know what I'm saying? Like, you want to meet Snoop? She like, "Are you serious?" And I I still can picture this on them on the stage dancing with Snoop, my uncle, Bryant, and uh Peaches just smiling, you know, ear to ear. And uh every day I think about this all the time because like I I always wonder what I what could I have done differently, you know, what could I have changed to change that outcome that night? because I remember at the end of the party, you know, and they were like, "We're gonna go home and we're a little tired." And and and I didn't know where they were staying or anything like that. And I I I remember saying, "Y' y'all can stay at the hotel. Y'all can stay in my room." And they, you know, my auntie like, "No, I don't want to do that. I know you going to come, you know, when you come home, where you going to sleep." And I'm like, "I'm partying all night. You know, we lost. I'mma party all night." And she, you know, she's like, "No, we're going to drive. We're not going to do you like that." And and you know, I always said I should have pushed a little harder. You know, I didn't know this was going to happen. I didn't see this foresee it happening. Um but then, you know, they left that day and got in their car and drove back to their hotel. And you know, I that's last time I've seen them. And you know, I'm you know, I'm partying with my teammates and uh friends who came out there to the Super Bowl. And uh I can remember I I remember waking up I I remember my phone going off and I silenced it cuz I was tired. I mean I just came in probably like at 4 in the morning. We had to be up at like 10 to take all our luggage down to get on it. So I'm trying to sleep and I remember silencing in the phone. I didn't look at it. So when I woke up I had like a thousand missed calls and I'm like maybe people talking about the Super Bowl like how good I was in the Super Bowl. Uh, but I seen multiple ones from my mom and that's unusual. And I I listen to the voice recording. She can barely talk. She's just crying. So I call her. I'm like, "What do you what you say about Peaches and Brian?" She like, "They're dead." I'm like, "No, they're not. I just I was with them like a couple hours ago." She said, "I know. On the way home, a drunk driver rear ended them and they both died." I I didn't I couldn't believe it. I I didn't believe it at the time, but for some some reason u Jim Harbaugh already knew about it. And um he was just like, "We we're going to get you home, you know, to your family." So I was just like, "Yeah, I need to do that." And uh yeah, so >> he he >> I I can understand why you thought I if I pressed them hard enough they'd stay in my room and this wouldn't have happened. >> Yeah. >> I think the only thing I could say that would be of any comfort is that you tried. But the other is you gave them a thrill of a lifetime in their last hours of life. >> Yeah. by what you did in the dang Super Bowl and then the whole Snoop Dogg of it all. And that's very easy for me to say u because I didn't suffer that loss after such an amazing week for you and a huge performance in the Super Bowl. Um but I know it pained you. I mean, I can hear it. I can I can hear in your voice. >> Yeah. I still not over it. You know, I've heard people tell me it's not my fault. And you know, I I don't know. I I had, you know, I have to I had counseling with with with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. They really helped me a lot through that situation and that's why I wanted to partner up with them because, you know, they they let me know it wasn't my fault, you know. Um and it happens more than I know, you know. I didn't know that at the time because I I nothing had this at this time had happened to me with drinking and driving. I've never been pulled over with a DUI. So, I didn't never knew anything about it. And they educated me cuz I needed to be educated before I could educate other people about this situation. So, like they helped my family a lot. Like when I think about them, I I stop being sad because they teach you they teach you how to grieve and to understand this and to honor their name, you know. So that was the thing and with me doing this was to honor Peaches and Brian. Um and I spoke out, you know, I I know a lot of people may have not liked that at the time, me speaking out, me getting bills passed on breathalyzers and cars and stuff, but it was right. it was right for me to do. >> Well, I think it is because that's how you help keep their memory alive for you >> and then hopefully prevent this happening to someone else. Um, so people can say whatever they want. You did what you felt led to do and I I believe firmly it was the right thing to do. All right, let's just let's take a pause here because I got I got a serious but I want to talk to you about things that you haven't really talked about in this type of platform or forum. Um because this is what people need to know about Delaney Walker because you did great things on the football field, but I want them to know about Delaney the person and that's why this is important. So, you play in the Super Bowl, you're all of a sudden everybody's blowing you up, but you're getting into this window where you are going to be a free agent. And so, your Titans chapter begins when you sign here. And when you arrive, the Titans were going through coaching changes, quarterback changes, roster turnover, much like it is today with the Tennessee Titans currently. How difficult is it to stay positive when there's so much thing so many things around you moving like that? >> That's a great question. It it it you know what it is tough to stay positive, but that's why we lean on each other. You know what I mean? And you have to lean on your teammates, your family, cuz the outside, you have the outside noise. They don't understand what's going on in the inside. You just you hear the outside noise and sometimes you feel like everyone's against you and and your brothers. And when it's that tough, it's like what do we play for? Who do we play for? You know, that's where I said I have to lean on my guys because at the end of the day, for us, what are we playing for? We playing for each other, right? We play for each other. We play for the state of Tennessee. And when that noise is louder than what what you thinking, it can be tough. It can be hard. You can hold your head down or you can lift your head up and be like, we're going to go out there and fight. Even though we know the odds are against us, we going to show up. Give them something to be proud about. And I think that's how I looked at it on I'mma lean on you, you lean on me, cuz together we can be great. But if I'm doing it all by myself, I'm pushing you to try to be great. But if we doing it with each other, that is easier to to motivate. And that's what I believe. So I I mean, the fight is tough when everything's against you, but sometimes you got to put your back against the wall and fight. >> And the adversity is what molds you. >> Yeah. Too. >> Like the winning is great. That's what you do it for. >> Oh yeah. At the end of the day, >> that's all of it. But when it gets tough, that's what molds you guys. >> Yeah. >> You talked about leaning on your guys. When did you feel like and discover that younger players were leaning on you? Because you're coming in as a seven-year vet in this. And it's a it was a pretty young locker. I mean, Taylor Dewan said it last week on this very show about, hey, man, this 82 cat, he's serious about his business. When did that happen for you when you realized guys were coming to you, younger guys? >> Uh, I might have to say I I would have to say early. Um, maybe early in training camp. I think guys seeing how I came out and went about my business. I'm not a big talker when I'm out there on the field. I'm not going to be the guy who hurrah and scream and yell. I'm the guy who goes out there and practice every day. I know they talked about I didn't practice as much, but [laughter] That was later on in my in my years. Uh but >> yeah, you did play 14 years. So >> yeah. Yeah. Earlier I practiced every day. I never wanted to miss a practice. They couldn't even tell me to stay inside. I be I wasn't the first person here cuz the quarterback usually the first person here, but I was either the second or third person to come to this facility, turn the lights on, get in the training room, do everything I needed to do. And I think guys started to see that. They was like, "Man, this dude, seven, eight years in the league and look how he go about work every day. Every day." And I and I used to say this at cats. They be like, "Man, why you practicing so hard? Why you going so hard?" And I'll be like, "Cuz if you practice hard, the game come easy. I'm not going to be tired. I'mma see everything that I seen in practice cuz I went hard. I'mma make you go harder." And that's what I think guys they saw that like dude even though Delaney may be excuse my language he goes about this day every day preparing us. Even though I'm preparing myself I was preparing the young guys underneath me to make them better cuz I think if when they see it they believe it. So I just had to show them. I heard somebody describe this coaches players practice is hell. The game is heaven. You gotta go through hell to get to heaven. >> Yes. >> And that was your whole mindset. >> That was my mindset. I tell Cats, we get paid to practice. >> The game is a bonus. That's That's bonus. That's a privilege to play in front of 80,000 people to put this jersey on. >> It's easy. >> Represent your name. >> Represent your name. People going action figures, playing cards. >> Yep. >> That's a bonus. You were a four-time captain for the Tennessee Titans. Did becoming a captain come naturally to you or was it something you had to grow into? I I say I have to grow into um in San Francisco. I I never consider I never seen myself as a captain. I and only reason why I'm going to say this is because when I went to San Francisco, you had guys like Larry Allen, Brian Young, Jonas Jennifer was Trent Dford was there like I I and I watch these guys and I see C's on their chest. So like I never seen myself as a captain early because I feel like I have to evolve into that. I have to become a true professional to have that sea on my chest. So when I got here to Tennessee, I didn't know if I was going to be a captain, how people saw me in that role because like I said, I led by example. I didn't talk much. I didn't I didn't motivate guys in the aspect of speaking, maybe playing, I motivated him. So you know, the first year when I when I was nominated as a captain, it almost shook. I was shocked, right? I was shocked that so many dudes on this team saw me in that light. The It's funny you say that because in talking to Jeff Simmons, Jeffrey Simmons last week in the locker room and he again was elected a captain by his teammates and I I talked to him about maybe some of the onus being off of him. He felt like he had to be more of a leader last year with the coaching structure and now that there's veteran coaches here that have head coaching, he goes, "No." He said, "Rett, that that there's tremendous responsibility with being a captain. If you if you earned it, you better take it serious." Mhm. And and that's why I said it surprised me cuz I didn't I was I didn't I wouldn't have vote for myself at that time just because like you know I was very vocal in the media on saying what I felt and I didn't know if that rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. You never know you know some some things you say some players may see it as you you you talking bad about the whole team or you talking bad about a certain group. So like, and I was the guy who always felt a certain way when when we lost, right? I I'm going to tell you, if you ask the right question, you going to get the right answer from me. And I didn't know guys had seen that as leadership, too. Like, man, he speaks. He's saying what's what needs to be said. And I think a lot of guys chose me as a captain because of that. Because I would tell you how I felt and I would tell like off camera and stuff in the locker room, I'm going to tell you like you you costing us. You you cost us that game. Like I would say that and they may thought I was joking cuz I joked a lot, but it was always truth behind every joke I told. And I and when players decided to make me a captain, I said, "Boy, what I'm doing is working. But now I have to take I have to do more because I'm a captain now." So me just, you know, talking out loud or whatever, that ain't going to work. I I have to be more than that. More than what I was, that's be playing every down, going out there, showing up, I got to be a leader about off the field, even when we not in this locker room. If a player call me need something, I need to show up for him. And that's I took my job seriously when I became a captain. And it was just like, "Okay, well now y'all gave me the y'all gave me the ropes, man. I'm about to swing them." >> Well, and I feel like and and without knowing cuz I'm not in that circle that you were in in that brotherhood fraternity that is the NFL and and in this case the Titans, but I feel like it's not one of these things where like the the NFL's done away with the Pro Bowl and you went to that event and was elected to that event several times. I feel like those are the things where okay, Delaney's his name is among the ones you should pay attention to. Now he'll get elected again. Captain is totally different. >> Yeah. >> You were a four-time captain and you didn't get that because you kind of winginged it through the first captaincy year that you had. You earned those stripes and you know it wasn't just a box for your guys to check and go, "Yep, Delaney, that's easy. That's easy." >> It was easy because of what you did. >> Yeah. and how you it was actions, not just words. >> Yeah, very true. >> More actions probably is what you've said. >> More actions for sure. >> What's a Titans teammate that doesn't get enough credit from the era that you were here? >> I'm gonna have to go uh Craig Stevenson. >> Oh, big cat. >> Yeah, Cat. >> Cat Stevens. Yes. I I coming here and having him as my co-partner made my job so much easier. And people, you know, every time I talk about best blocking tight ends, they never talk about Craig Stevens. And I'm like, he was probably the best blocking tight end in the NFL at that stent. And he doesn't get enough credit. He doesn't get enough credit. I don't know why. Obviously, blocking is not pretty, but my man was a beast. Chris Johnson, those yards he got, Craig Stevens was on those plays. I guarantee you, blocking dudes, making sure he was untouched. And you know, I just I want people to know, the fans to know like you value a guy like that, especially in the run game, cuz he's he's making my job easier. He's making the quarterback job easier. He's making the running back job. He's making that left or right tackle job easier. And when people don't understand that, you know, it kills me. But, uh, I have to say he's one of the guys I feel like he did not get enough credit, um, for >> Did the dirty work. did all the dirty work >> and never said a thing about it. >> Never. Not >> and a great dude on top of that. >> Very good dude. >> Um, that's a great answer. I like that. Okay, so you mentioned bringing the intensity into practice every day and guys going, "Why are you going so hard?" Somebody else had to do that. Who was the toughest guy in that window? Any team any year that made practice interesting for you? Like, oh, okay. He wants to go too. >> Carl Crow. >> Oh, boy. God, [laughter] >> big Carl. >> He was like me, but worse. I mean, full tilt every play, 100%. Even if he was on scout team, he did not care. That was the guy who made Taylor good. [laughter] That made I mean, any of those guys that was playing that year, he was the guy he And he don't get enough credit. I I mean he definitely don't get enough credit for the guys he went against when he was here. The guys he made better. He was full tilt every play. I mean, God, >> motor ran hot. >> Motor ran hot. And you know, like I like saying that cuz like I feed off of that. You know, I felt like I was a hightemp guy, but gosh, he >> he Yeah. >> And he had production in with you guys on the field in games, too. now. >> Monster. >> And another great dude. >> Yeah. And another great dude. >> Another great dude. >> Monster. And he was the guy. He was the guy that I didn't want to go against. I'm not even going to lie. At practice, I swear to God, I was like, God, >> Carl. Oh my again. >> Again, man, it is a rough play. Hey, Trey, bro, we need to I need help. Trey on this guy. Like, you know what I mean? It was just it was him. He was the one. He was the one I I did not like going against in practice. >> Wow. [laughter] I want to take you to a place that is uh potentially dark. I don't think you've ever talked about this on any platform. And that is the longest game in NFL history. September the 9th, 2018, Hard Rock Stadium, Titans and Miami Dolphins. There were two different two plus hour lightning delays. The game took 7 hours and 8 minutes. I don't have to tell you that cuz you lived it. What do you remember about that day? >> That I didn't want to play anymore at that time. Uh I don't know if y'all know this. A lot of people will probably won't notice and other players will tell you, probably coaches will say it never happened, but uh I remember after the second delay, I want to say, or whatever it was, they they we had a committee at that time of like 17 players And uh they brought us all up and was like, "Hey, the NFL is giving us two options. We can stop the game right now and play tomorrow." I think that was play tomorrow. Yeah, it was play tomorrow on Monday. Or we sit it out and we just sit this rain out delay and it can go as long as, but we'll finish this game today. Maybe six of us was like, "End the game. Let's play tomorrow. Let's just call it quits. Go back to the hotel. Get ready for tomorrow. Leave where it left off." And the other rest was like, "No." So it was 11 to like six of us that six was like, "Let's not." The other 11 was like, "Let's finish." >> Titans and Dolphins. >> I think the I think the Dolphins had they had their own discussion. like I don't know what happened in the in the Dolphins locker room. So obviously every both sides was like nope, let's finish this game. We don't want to do that on Monday. And I was kind of already checked out, you know what I mean? I I we it's already been these delays. We don't get to stretch. We're eating barbecue in the locker room. We're not warming up. We're not stretching. It was just sitting there. And I'm thinking in my mind, I'm like, this was this is 13 years for me at this time. I'm And I'm Yeah. And I hate to say I was checked out cuz I mean that's not the right word I should use, but I was checked out. Like I'm like, this is way too long of a game for us to even finish. >> Well, at the end of the day, you're human. Yeah. And you have human reactions. And I mean it was very sultry, steamy, warm. And it was a weird thing because the weather never got rough at the stadium. It was the lightning strikes within an 8 mile radius. And there was a couple that was within two miles. It never came a storm and rain torrential. But with South Beach type heat in Miami Gardens, Florida, it's much like what we have in Tennessee right now. It's just oppressively hot with due points and the moisture in the air. And so you guys are soaked and it's a cold locker room. So there's that part of it, the buildup of lactic acid, waiting around. >> Double IV. Like I got IV before the game. I had to get a IV again cuz like you said, I'm just sweating crazy. We'll go out to see if it's raining. It's not raining. Like you said, it wasn't thundering. So I'm like, why are we still in the locker room? Let's play. But we we couldn't go out. But I'm getting angrier and angrier as we sit there and we wait and I and I'm not maybe because we in the locker room I'm not as focused. I'm like we just need to end this game, you know. And that's what I really felt should have happened, you know, and and and I can remember them coming like, "Hey, we're going to go back out there, but we're not going to stretch this time. They're going to just put the ball down and we're going to just play and we're on offense." And I'm sitting there like, God, really? Like, I'm stiff. Not going to stretch. >> Did not sound good at all. >> At all. So, we put the ball down. They blow the whistle. >> Yeah. >> Derek Henry takes us 80 yard touchdown to the house. I want to say they call me for Holden. And anybody can go back and watch this. I never touched the man. He face masks me. Pulls me down. They call Holden on 82. The next play I want to say it's a pass to me. Break my leg. That was 349 left in the game after two different lightning delays. That was right at 4 hours. So it is just a tick or two outside of the two-minute warning and you break your leg. I remember Yeah, it was a pass to you and I remember you laying there. Um, and I remember thinking this this is this is not good. He's he's he's down on he's down too long. Um, take me through what was going through your mind as you're laying there on the field at Hard Rock Stadium cuz again this is year 13 for you. >> Yeah. Um, I remember it was like I had like a dig play. I I remember I we ran that play a lot. was always successful and and I knew I was getting the ball when they called to drove it up. I'm like, "Okay, they trying to get me the ball." I remember getting it and I remember the safety I can't remember his name. I remember him come up me. I stiff arm him and now this a rule. They can't do it anymore. He grabs my jersey. He hip tackle me. Hip drop tackle. >> Hip drop tackle. Yep. >> I When he when I go down, nothing hurts, right? I don't feel anything, but I I thought I rolled my ankle. So, I'm like, "Oh, damn. I rolled my ankle." I lift my leg up because it just it not it it's like a roll ankle, but it's like it feels weird. I can't like can't pick myself up. So, I lift my leg up to see what's going on. My ankle is my toes are facing the grass, right? >> So, I'm like, "Oh my god, I broke my leg. And now shock starting attending because I'm like first game of the season. I'm and and I know this gonna sound crazy but all this stuff is going in my head like I was like I told you I didn't want to play. I'm I'm saying that. I told them I didn't want to play. I told them and I just I'm just keep saying that. Keep saying that. And then I see Vel and he's like man I was like I broke my leg like I can see it. I'm like I'm sorry. You know what I'm saying? I'm tell I'm sorry. He's like, "Why are you sorry?" I'm like, "This is our year." Like, I felt it. You know what I mean? I'm I'm just sorry. I'm not going to be here. Like, and that that was the tough part because I really felt like that was my team that year. Like, we were going to be great. You know, AJ was balling out. I mean, no, not AJ. Derrick Henry was having a year was gonna have a year that nobody I mean what he did in Miami I'm like this is this is gonna be crazy with Derrick Henry showing up me have being out there and that all happens everything just flashes like I'm 13 years I'm 30ome years old what's next like is this it for me and um >> so that you had that thought laying there a question about whether you'd ever play again just because >> because the way my ankle looked like my ankle was turned out dislocated dislocated and fractured and fractured and it was facing the opposite way and I couldn't feel it. >> So when when I couldn't feel it I knew I nerve damages all this stuff. >> Well your body was in shock at that point >> was in shock too but he told me so I'm like I can't feel my leg. I'm talking to the doc. I'm like I can't feel my leg. He like you severed some nerves. That's normal. I'm like oh my god. severed nerves. Yeah. >> Yeah. I'm like he like but you know we got to break it back in place. I'm like right here like and then people watch the game. I never you I never cried. I never screamed like they thought it people was like what what like was you on tour at all? Why you No, I wasn't. I was just I was in shock. I was in shock that I was not about to be able to play this season. I I don't even think y'all cared about my leg. It was more of me not being in the season. Uh yeah, man. And and I could I when he broke my when he broke it back in place, >> they had to reset it so they could put the air cast back on and >> everything hit me right then and there. Like once he put it back in place, I guess a few nerves got intact and then that's when I was I felt that pain and I'm like, "Oh my god, this is the worst pain I ever felt. My about to throw up." He goes, "That's normal. That's that is completely normal. Do whatever you have to do." They get me in the cast and they're talking to me like, "Hey, don't worry. Like, you know, you can bounce back from this." You know, they all telling me that. And and in my mind, I'm like, "Man, like, can I like will I bounce back from this? I'm 13 years in, I'm 30ome years old, and I just had the worst injury I ever had in my career." And uh I remember the owners coming down, you know, talking to me and and telling me, you know, they got my back and you know, just get ready to come back for next year. And I, you know, I don't want to hear get ready for next year. You know, I'm just like, oh man, I you know, it's set in. I start crying and stuff just like is this it for me? Is this it? And >> who was the first person you heard from uh once you got back to a phone whenever that was that had reached out to you? Family member, friend, whatever. The first person I heard from was my friend Paul uh Paul Brown, man. He was actually at that game and they they the Titans let him come into the the MRI riding the ambulance with me everything like and I'm thankful for that. You know they cuz they didn't they didn't know him for they didn't know who he was. He could have said he was anybody and they let him in. >> Sometimes those things have a way of working out though. >> Yeah it does. >> Um and he probably spoke with a tone and conviction that it's like yeah he's not putting on. Yeah. >> And it was a comfort for you. >> Yeah. No, I needed it. You know what I mean? Uh I needed it at that time. Even though I was surrounded by the owners and the doctors, I needed a familiar face, like someone I can really talk to that really understood what I've been through and and uh to get to this opportunity. So, when I saw Paul, I kind of like I kind of like eased up a little bit like, man, [clears throat] he and he was crying and I told him I said, "Stop crying. You're gonna make me cry." >> Yeah. >> And he was like, you know, he just was like, "Bro, I know how hard you work." And I hate to see this happen to you. You know what I mean? And uh and he was like, "Man, your parent everybody been calling me." They was all calling him cuz they knew he was at the game. And uh they had just gave me morphine though, right? So after Paul come in, I'm chopping it up with him. But then they hit me with morphine. And I I kind of forgot about everything. Like leg was broke, this that. He was like, "Hey man, you want me to call your mom?" I'm like, "Oh, no. I'll talk to her later cuz like I'm not in the right mind at this point. >> Uh but I needed that because I was kind of like freaking out a little bit just because I didn't know >> was it's your first major injury of your career. >> Yeah. And I was just >> you made it to year 13 before that. Like yeah, you're nicked, you're ding, you have things or you got cleaned up after the season, but this is a big deal. >> Big deal. And it's the first game of the season. first game of the season. >> Delaney, when when you look back now, do you think that injury changed Delaney Walker the person more or did it change Delaney Walker the football player more? Man, I don't know. I feel like >> because the sad truth of it is is >> you were never quite the same after you know it and that's what Titans fans were hurting for you. >> Yeah. Never the same. So I would have to say the Laney Walker the the football player like >> it changed where I couldn't be on the field every day. I couldn't even practice every day. I had to walk in a boot every day. And that's not me. I knew it wasn't me. I knew I was letting my teammates down, but I was also letting myself down because I that's not the way I went about my job. That's not the way I carried myself where I had to feel sorry for myself and other people like felt sorry for me. I know they did cuz I remember one time at practice and I run a I thought I ran a clean corner route and I remember at the when I'm jogging back Der Casey like you good you good. I'm like what you mean? He like bro you look like you limping. I'm like I thought I was and he was the only one who kept it 100 with me that day. He's like bro you good. I'm like yeah. He like you don't look good. And and after that day, I remember I didn't I went in and I told the trainers like I am I still limping? And they was like, "Yeah, you limping." And then I I didn't go out the next day, right? Cuz I was like, "All right, you do look like you're limping." And then that just kept leading to not practicing, missed this game, not practicing, missed this game to a point where I didn't I didn't even know, you know, I wasn't going to be in none of the in no play call in. No, I wasn't in the script. So, it was really like I'm next to be cut. I know it like I felt it, you know, just and I knew I wasn't the same player and I hated that. I hated that about all of it because, you know, I even I don't try to blame it on that Miami game or whatever. But I do I I do I if it wasn't for that game, I tell people today, I'd probably still be playing if it wasn't for that game. Delaney. Um, I think this is a good place to stop. I'd say that's a wrap on this one, but I'm going to tell you this. Um, I can't say thank you enough for you talking about things that are very difficult. Uh, I thought it was a very good second show to reveal this because this is your show. And I promise people watching and listening, I promise we're going to have some fun. We're going to have some great guests, but this is this is what this is. Uh to kind of reset the base of this. >> Um but I I really appreciate you being candid with me and and for for everybody listening on Titans Radio. I promise we're going to go back up next week as you have all been listening to Titans Uncut with Delaney Walker, presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners here on Titans video.