The Cleveland Browns may not have the winningest history, but this is a decorated franchise and a tight family that deeply appreciates all of the talented players and coaches who have fought for this franchise over the years. Because of that tight-knit culture, it’s always sad when one of their own hangs ’em up.
Former Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. officially announced his retirement on Thursday via his Instagram account. At just 30 years old and with 99 games in the NFL under his belt, he is walking away on his own accord, which is always an admirable decision.
Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot shared the news and added that Walker was an “excellent player and great person to cover!”
“Former #Browns LB Anthony Walker Jr. announced his retirement today on his IG account. Excellent player and great person to cover!,” Cabot posted on X.
Former #Browns LB Anthony Walker Jr. announced his retirement today on his IG account. Excellent player and great person to cover! pic.twitter.com/Zf1HYtzdFx
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) April 2, 2026
Walker spent eight years in the NFL after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 draft out of Northwestern by the Indianapolis Colts. He last played for the Miami Dolphins in 2024 and spent three years with the Browns from 2021-2023, a tenure which began with him ceding his No. 4 to Deshaun Watson (who could be the starting quarterback once again) in exchange for a Rolex.
His best year in Cleveland was in 2021 when he collected 113 tackles and a sack in 13 games. He played in just three games in 2023 and started to miss time regularly after joining the Browns, so it’s nice to see him exit the game on his own terms after a few injury-filled years.
He spent 2025 bouncing between the Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squads, but he didn’t make it back to an active roster. It’s a shame he didn’t, because he still looked like he had more to give the game.
Congrats to Walker for walking away on his own terms, and all of us at Brown Nation wish him the best in his post-playing days.
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