![\"Anthony](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1464946938-e1775151375380.jpg\")
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. <\/p>\n
After 9 NFL<\/a> seasons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> inside linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.<\/a> is calling it quits.<\/p>\n Walker announced his retirement on his official Instagram account on Thursday<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you football for 26 years of blood, sweat, and tears,\u201d Walker wrote. \u201d \u2026 Thank you to the Colts<\/a>, Dolphins<\/a>, Browns<\/a> and Buccaneers for the opportunity to play this game I\u2019ve always loved \u2026 thank you to my teammates. Being a teammate was always my favorite part about playing football! Thank your helping me create the STANDARD! Next chapter will be even better!\u201d<\/p>\n Walker, 30 years old, played his final season with the Buccaneers in 2025 but only appeared in 2 regular-season games. He finished his career with 581 tackles in 101 games with 83 starts.<\/p>\n \u201cLB Anthony Walker Jr. has announced his retirement, via his IG,\u201d NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote<\/a> on his official X account on Thursday. \u201cWalker was a 5th-round pick of the Colts in 2017 and played nine NFL seasons \u2014 amassing 581 career tackles, 26 TFLs, 4 INTs and 21 passes defensed.\u201d<\/p>\n Bucs Hoped Anthony Walker Jr. Could Contribute<\/p>\n The Buccaneers brought in Walker on a 1-year, $1.422 million free agent contract before the 2025 season with the thought that he could either provide great depth or become the starter opposite Lavonte David<\/a>, who also recently announced his retirement.<\/p>\n Just 5 months later, Walker Jr. was given his walking papers \u2014 released despite reports that he\u2019s healthy despite being on the PUP list (Physically Unable To Perform) throughout the offseason.<\/p>\n \u201cTampa is releasing veteran LB Anthony Walker<\/a>\u00a0Jr., who has been on the Physically Unable to Perform List but is said to be \u2018healthy and ready to go,\u2019 \u201d\u00a0ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter<\/a>\u00a0wrote on his official X account on August 25.<\/p>\n The Buccaneers brought Walker back on the practice squad and signed him to the active roster on December 15.<\/p>\n Walker was a 5th-round pick (No. 161 overall) by the Indianapolis Colts<\/a>\u00a0out of Northwestern in the\u00a02017 NFL draft<\/a>\u00a0and has approximately\u00a0$15.3 million in career earnings<\/a>\u00a0through his first 8 seasons.<\/p>\n Walker, who just turned 30 years old, played for the Colts his first four seasons and was a full-time starter for the last 3, including a career high 124 tackles in 2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n He spent 3 seasons with\u00a0Cleveland Browns<\/a>\u00a0and had 113 tackles in 2021. He played on a 1-year, $1.377 million contract for the\u00a0Miami Dolphins<\/a> in 2024 and saw action in 14 games with 8 starts, 68 tackles, and 1 interception.<\/p>\n Buccaneers Will Have New Look at Inside Linebacker<\/p>\n Anticipating the retirement of David, the Buccaneers signed 2 free agents<\/a> who were starting inside linebackers for other teams last season, with Carolina Panthers<\/a> starter Christian Rozeboom<\/a> and Detroit Lions<\/a>\u00a0standout\u00a0Alex Anzalone<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tampa Bay received a rare, A+ grade from The Athletic\u2019s Daniel Popper<\/a> for signing Anzalone to a\u00a02-year, $17 million contract<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bucs get younger at the position by bringing on Anzalone, who is a superior athlete \u2026 Anzalone is fast, flexible, and fluid,\u201d Popper wrote. \u201cHe is slippery when evading blockers, especially as a blitzer \u2026 Anzalone is also a versatile coverage player. The one knock on his game is a slight lack of physicality as a run defender. But this is an excellent value deal for the Bucs at a position of need.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tTony Adame<\/a> covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Buccaneers\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t