Tight end Wesley Walls, who had the best years of his 15-year NFL career with the Carolina Panthers, is this week’s guest on “Sports Legends of the Carolinas.” There are only five members of the Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor who actually played for the team — Walls is one of them, having been inducted in 2019. He is also a longtime Charlotte resident, a grandfather, and one of the best storytellers I’ve ever interviewed.
Walls was a star for the Panthers from 1996 to 2002, making five Pro Bowls in a 7-year span. In Part 1 of our conversation, he remembers the best team he ever played on; bar brawls with Ric Flair and Kevin Greene; and Walls' mother giving up her dreams so that he could chase his.
In Part 2 of our conversation, Walls reflects on concussions and the wear and tear of his football career; his one regret from his playing days; and the gifts of humility and gratitude. For that, subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts.
A listener note: Walls mentions one-time teammate and fellow Mississippi native Brett Favre multiple times in our conversation. I spoke with Walls before news broke of Favre’s alleged involvement in a welfare fraud scandal in Mississippi.
Sports Legends of the Carolinas is hosted by Scott Fowler. It's produced by Jeff Siner and Kata Stevens. McClatchy's director of audio is Davin Coburn. For lots more on the show, visit https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sportslegends .
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