Jay Walker (legislator)
Jay Walker | |
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Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 26th district | |
Assumed office January 10, 2007 Serving with Veronica L. Turner, Kris Valderrama | |
Preceded by | Darryl A. Kelley |
Personal details | |
Born | Jewel Jacobia Walker January 24, 1972 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Monique Anderson-Walker |
Children | 3 |
Residence | Fort Washington, Maryland, U.S. |
Education | Howard University (BA) |
Football career | |
No. 6 | |
Career information | |
Position(s) | Quarterback |
Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
Weight | 229 lb (104 kg) |
College | Long Beach State Howard |
NFL draft | 1994 / Round: 7 / Pick: 198 |
Career history | |
As player | |
1994 | New England Patriots |
1995 | Barcelona Dragons |
1996–1997 | Minnesota Vikings |
Jay Walker (born January 24, 1972) is an American businessman, politician, and former NFL player serving as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for the 26th district. Walker is also CEO and president of Walker Financial Services and a college football analyst for ESPN.[1]
Early life and education[]
Born in California, Walker attended University High School in Los Angeles and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Howard University.
Career[]
Football[]
Walker played quarterback in both college and professional football, after a brief stint in professional baseball. After high school, he was drafted by Major League Baseball's California Angels organization.[1] He spent one year as a pitcher in the minor leagues before deciding to pursue college football.[1] He initially attended Long Beach State but transferred when football was eliminated as a sport at the school.[2]
Walker later joined the Howard Bison, where he set single-season records for pass completions and passing yardage, as well as a single-game record for pass completions (with 38).[3] His passing earned him the nickname "Sky Walker." He was selected to the All-MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) teams in both 1993 and 1994, and named Offensive Player of the Year in 1994.[3] That season, the Bison recorded an undefeated regular season while winning the MEAC championship and a claim to the black college football national championship; the team also secured the school's first NCAA Division I-AA playoff bid and a top-ten national ranking.[3][4][5] In 2005, Walker was voted into the Howard University Athletics Hall of Fame.[3]
Walker pursued a professional career in the National Football League when he was selected in the 7th round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.[2] Walker spent the 1995 season in the World League of American Football with the Barcelona Dragons, where he suffered an injury during a game in which a lack of running backs required him to throw a pass on every play.[6] Following the injury, he lost his job with New England, but he returned to the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, where he served as a backup for two years. He attempted two career NFL passes, both for completions.[7]
Maryland Legislature[]
Walker has been a member of the Maryland House of Delegates since January 2007. He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. He is also a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.[8]
Walker sponsored House Bill 30 in 2007, establishing the Maryland Educational Fund.[9]
Personal life[]
Walker is married to Monique Anderson-Walker, a politician. He lives in Fort Washington, Maryland and has three children.[10]
References[]
- ^ a b c "Jay Walker". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ a b Hunt, Donald (August 20, 2012). "Jay Walker, former Howard QB, finds second career in broadcast booth". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "2005 Howard Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Class". Howard University. Archived from the original on November 4, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
- ^ "Paying Tribute To Howard's 1993 Undefeated Football Champions". Howard University Athletics. October 24, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
- ^ "Meet The Delegate". Friends of Jay Walker. January 1, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Carlson, Michael (September 23, 1996). "Quarterbacks' Sneak: WLAF to NFL". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
- ^ "Jay Walker". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
- ^ "Jay Walker, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ "BILL INFO-2007 1st Special Session-HB 30". mlis.state.md.us. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ "Jay Walker, Maryland State Delegate". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- 1972 births
- African-American state legislators in Maryland
- University High School (Los Angeles) alumni
- American football quarterbacks
- Barcelona Dragons players
- Living people
- Maryland Democrats
- Members of the Maryland House of Delegates
- Minnesota Vikings players
- College football announcers
- Long Beach State 49ers football players
- Howard Bison football players
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century African-American politicians
- 20th-century African-American people