Walter Packer

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Walter Packer

| image =

| number = 30, 40

| position = Defensive back

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|11|7}}

| birth_place = Leakesville, Mississippi, U.S.

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 10

| weight_lbs = 174

| high_school = Leakesville (Mississippi)

| college = Mississippi State (1973–1976)

| draftyear = 1977

| draftround = 8

| draftpick = 203

| pastteams =

Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1977}})*
Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|1977}})
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|1977}})
Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|1979}})*

| highlights =

First-team All-SEC (1974)
Second-team All-SEC (1975)

| pfr = P/PackWa20

}}

Walter Packer (born November 7, 1955) is an American former professional football defensive back who played one season in the National Football League (NFL) with the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the eighth round of the 1977 NFL draft after playing college football at Mississippi State University, where he was a running back.

Early life

Walter Packer was born on November 7, 1955, in Leakesville, Mississippi.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/players/p/pack00200.html | title=Walter Packer | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=17 April 2025}} He attended Leakesville High School in Leakesville.

College career

Packer was a four-year letterman for the Mississippi State Bulldogs of Mississippi State University from 1973 to 1976. He rushed 50 times for 181 yards and one touchdown his freshman year in 1973 while also catching two passes for 54 yards. In 1974, he recorded 157 carries for 994 yards and six touchdowns, and five receptions for 35 yards. Packers led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in rushing yards that season and earned Associated Press (AP) first-team All-SEC honors.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19741203&id=8Hc0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ep0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3185,830202&hl=en|work=The Tuscaloosa News|title=All-SEC squad|accessdate=June 5, 2015|via=Google news archive|page=15|date=December 3, 1974}} {{Open access}} In 1975, he totaled 180 rushing attempts for 1,012 yards and seven touchdowns while catching five passes for 67 yards, garnering AP second-team All-SEC recognition.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2593908/kingsport_times/|work=The Kingsport Times|date=November 25, 1975|title=Vols' Seivers, McCartney, Marvin on All-SEC Team|page=11|accessdate=June 11, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} As a senior in 1976, he recorded 96 carries for 633 yards and six touchdowns, one reception for 15 yards, and 12 kick returns for 195 yards. Packer's 6.6 yards per carry were the most in the SEC that year.{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/walter-packer-1.html?__hstc=223721476.cf5f44155f2e36f92dc58b684a6e9a44.1694291523663.1744860951880.1744925991876.1326&__hssc=223721476.1.1744925991876&__hsfp=396142232 | title=Walter Packer | publisher=Sports Reference | accessdate=17 April 2025}} On March 21, 1977, Packer was presented with a resolution adopted by both the Mississippi House of Representatives and Senate praising him for his college career.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vicksburg-post/170541756/ | title=Walter Packer Recognized By House, Senate | work=The Vicksburg Post | date=March 22, 1977 | agency=Associated Press | accessdate=17 April 2025 | pages=12}} Packer's 2,820 rushing yards were the second most in SEC history at the time. He was inducted into Mississippi State University's athletics hall of fame in 2005.{{cite web | url=https://hailstate.com/honors/hall-of-fame/walter-packer/139 | title=Walter Packer | publisher=Mississippi State University | accessdate=17 April 2025}}

Professional career

Packer was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the eighth round, with the 203rd overall pick, of the 1977 NFL draft as a wide receiver.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PackWa20.htm | title=Walter Packer | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=17 April 2025}} He officially signed with the Falcons on June 21.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mississippi-press/170542111/ | title=Falcons sign Packer | work=The Mississippi Press | date=June 21, 1977 | agency=Associated Press | accessdate=17 April 2025 | pages=3B}} He was waived on August 25, 1977.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph/170542657/ | title=Falcons Seeking Revenge | work=The Macon Telegraph | date=August 27, 1977 | accessdate=17 April 2025 | author=Burns, Steve | pages=5A}}

Packer signed with the Seattle Seahawks on September 16, 1977.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald/170543008/ | title=Speedster signed by Seahawks | work=The Daily Herald | date=September 16, 1977 | accessdate=17 April 2025 | pages=4C}} He was listed as a defensive back during the 1977 season and appeared in ten games while returning 13 kicks for 280 yards and 20 punts for 131 yards. He was released by the Seahawks on November 28, 1977.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/p/pack00200.html | title=Walter Packer Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=17 April 2025}}

Packer was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 13, 1977. He played in one game for the Buccaneers but did not record any statistics. He was released on August 30, 1978.

Packer signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in March 1979.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/170543613/ | title=Imports sign | work=The Leader-Post | date=March 20, 1979 | agency=Canadian Press | accessdate=17 April 2025 | pages=14}} He was released later in 1979.