GREEN BAY – Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker received the 2024 community service award at the team's annual Green Bay Chamber of Commerce "Welcome Back Packers Luncheon" on Friday in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
Walker was honored for a number of charitable endeavors in both Green Bay and his hometown of Waldorf, Md.
For the past two summers, he has offered a free football camp for players of all ages at his alma mater, North Point High School in Waldorf. This past spring, he took part in the Packers Tailgate Tour, traveling throughout Wisconsin to visit fans and raise money for local organizations. Walker also has visited elementary schools to speak with children, visited military bases to talk with troops, and helped provide meals to needy families, among other endeavors.
The Packers drafted Walker in the seventh and final round in 2022 with the No. 249 overall selection out of Penn State, where he was named third-team All-Big Ten each of his last two seasons. As a rookie, he played just four snaps on special teams the entire season.
He was thrust into a major role in 2023 when five-time All-Pro David Bakhtiari was unable to play after the season opener. Walker stepped in at left tackle in Week 2 and started all but one game the remainder of the season, eventually ending a job-sharing rotation with Yosh Nijman and taking over full-time duty.
He's become so entrenched at the position that when the Packers drafted a college left tackle, Arizona's Jordan Morgan, in the first round this past April, Morgan was moved to guard to compete for a starting spot.
"We always say it doesn't matter how you got here, it's what you do once you get here," Head Coach Matt LaFleur told the crowd after Walker received his award. "This guy was a seventh-round pick, he's the starting left tackle for the Green Bay Packers, and he's giving back to the community in a big, big way. I'm really proud of him."
Walker joins teammate Kenny Clark (2018) as a current Packers player to have received this award.
Walker received a standing ovation from the packed Atrium as he accepted the award, and after expressing thanks to God and the Packers for the opportunities he's received, closed with one simple message:
"I'm looking forward to winning the Super Bowl this year," he said. "Go Pack Go."
The Green Bay Packers hosted the Welcome Back Packers Luncheon in the Lambeau Field Atrium on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.