Robert Earl Walden (March 9, 1938 – August 27, 2018) was an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player who was a punter in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL) and

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

(CFL). Walden played for 17 seasons, 14 of which were played in the NFL from 1964 to 1977. Previously, Walden had played three years in the CFL from 1961 to 1963. Walden was a part of the

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...

Super Bowl IX Super Bowl IX was an American football game played between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers season, Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion 1974 Minnesota Vikings season, Mi ...

and

Super Bowl X Super Bowl X was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Dallas Cowboys and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Pittsburgh Steelers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for t ...

winning teams. He led the NFL in punting in 1964 with a 46.4 yard average and was selected to the

Pro Bowl The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (since 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's All-star, star players. The format has changed ...

after the 1969 season. Before his NFL career, Walden led the CFL in punting, rushing, and receiving as a member of the

Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at Commonwealth Stadium. The E ...

in 1961 and 1962. Walden played for the University of Georgia Bulldogs for three years from 1958 to 1960. In 1958, as a sophomore, he led the nation in average yards per punt. In 1960, he set an Orange Bowl record for yards per punt.

References

http://www.iveyfuneral.com/obituary/robert-e-bobby-walden 1938 births 2018 deaths American football punters Players of Canadian football from Georgia (U.S. state) Canadian football punters Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players Edmonton Elks players Georgia Bulldogs football players Hamilton Tiger-Cats players Minnesota Vikings players Pittsburgh Steelers players Players of American football from Thomas County, Georgia {{amfoot-punter-stub