Jay Walker (legislator)

Jewel Jacobia Walker (born January 24, 1972) is an American businessman, politician, and former NFL player who served 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]

Jay Walker
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 26th district
In office
January 10, 2007 – January 11, 2023
Preceded byDarryl A. Kelley
Succeeded byJamila Woods
Personal details
Born
Jewel Jacobia Walker

(1972-01-24) January 24, 1972
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMonique Anderson-Walker
Children3
Residence(s)Fort Washington, Maryland, U.S.
EducationHoward University (BA)
Football career
No. 6
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:229 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:University
(Los Angeles, California)
College:Long Beach State
Howard
NFL Draft:1994 / Round: 7 / Pick: 198
Career history

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 seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots to join the quarterback room of Drew Bledsoe and Scott Zolak.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]

Maryland Legislature

Walker was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from January 10, 2007 to January 11, 2023. He served on the House Ways and Means Committee. He was also a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.[9]

Walker sponsored House Bill 30 in 2007, establishing the Maryland Educational Fund.[10]

In March 2022, Walker announced that he would not seek re-election to any office in 2022.[11]

Personal life

Walker is married to Monique Anderson-Walker, a politician and candidate for lieutenant governor of Maryland in 2022.[11] He lives in Fort Washington, Maryland, and has three children.[9]

References
  1. "Jay Walker". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  2. Hunt, Donald (August 20, 2012). "Jay Walker, former Howard QB, finds second career in broadcast booth". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  3. "2005 Howard Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Class". Howard University. Archived from the original on November 4, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  4. "Paying Tribute To Howard's 1993 Undefeated Football Champions". Howard University Athletics. October 24, 2013. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  5. "Meet The Delegate". Friends of Jay Walker. January 1, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  6. "1994 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  7. Carlson, Michael (September 23, 1996). "Quarterbacks' Sneak: WLAF to NFL". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  8. "Jay Walker". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  9. "Jay Walker, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  10. "BILL INFO-2007 1st Special Session-HB 30". mlis.state.md.us. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  11. Kurtz, Josh (March 2, 2022). "Del. Walker Won't Seek Reelection or Run For Any Other Office This Year". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
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