Nicknamed "Cubby" by his mother, Everson Walls was raised 2 miles from the Cowboys practice facility in north Dallas. He didn't start playing football until he was a senior at Lloyd V. Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas, leading the district in interceptions. Despite not having a scholarship or a spot on the football team, he enrolled at Grambling State University because his girlfriend was going to enroll there. He called her uncle, an assistant coach, and got a walk-on spot. After impressing during training camp, his mother met with legendary coach Eddie Robinson and got Walls a full scholarship. He did not disappoint, and earned Division I-AA All-American honors and led the nation in interceptions as a senior with 11.

Pro scouts thought he was too slow for the NFL after running a disappointing 4.72s 40yd dash in workouts. His hometown Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent, and he led the team in interceptions with 11 during his rookie season. His NFL career spanned 14 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys (1981-89), New York Giants (1990-92), and the Cleveland Browns (1992-93). He was a four-time Pro Bowler (1981-83, 1985), led the NFL in interceptions three times (1981, 1982, 1985), and finished 10th on the All-time career interception list with 57. Walls finally won a Super Bowl with the 1990 NY Giants.

During his stellar rookie season (1981-82), the Cowboys faced the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game. The lead shifted back and forth, and Walls had a career game with 2 interceptions, a fumble recovery, three passes deflected, and seven tackles. With 58 seconds to go from the 6yd line, 49ers QB Joe Montana scrambled and finally heaved the ball in desperation towards the back of the endzone. Wide-receiver Dwight Clark leapt and caught the ball in his fingertips over Everson Walls for the winning touchdown. The moment made the cover of Sports Illustrated and was immortalized forever as The Catch. Many football writers feel that the moment symbolized the end of the Dallas dynasty and the beginning of the 49ers dominance of the 1980s. Walls has stated that he felt The Catch overshadowed a great individual effort and a Hall-of-fame caliber career.

Walls led the NFL in interceptions three times and is the only three time leader in that category in league history. He led the league in interceptions in his first (1981), second (1982), and fifth seasons (1985), before opposing quarterbacks just stopped throwing to his side of the field altogether. Walls was one of the most feared cover cornerbacks ever to play the game. He probably isn't remembered as well as he should be because his accomplishments on the Dallas Cowboys in the early 1980's were partially overshadowed by the Cowboys' inability to get to the Superbowl (The Cowboys lost the NFC Championship game three straight seasons from 1980-1982, although Walls was not a member of the 1980 team). They also suffered an early exit in the Wild Card round of the playoffs in 1983 after posting an outstanding 12-4 record in the regular season. The Cowboys did make the playoffs again in 1985, but were not considered serious Super Bowl contenders and never were again during Walls' tenure with the Cowboys. Even further obscuring the spolight from Walls was a defensive unit that already featured future Hall of Famer Randy White, and defensive standouts Ed Jones, Harvey Martin, and Charlie Waters.

In 1990, Walls joined the New York Giants and became a starting cornerback for the team. The Giants, 13-3, reached the NFC Championship where they faced the two-time defending Super Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers - in San Francisco. The Giants upset the 49ers, 15-13, on a late field goal to end the 49ers bid for a "three-peat." This effectively ended the Joe Montana era of the 49ers dynasty. With pressure from Walls, future Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, as well as defensive end Jim Burt, and linebacker Carl Banks, Montana suffered an elbow injury that would sideline him for the entire 1991 season and virtually all of the 1992 season. Later, in the Super Bowl, Walls made an open field tackle of Buffalo Bills All-Pro runningback Thurman Thomas, that saved a sure touchdown and most likely the game. The Giants would win the Super Bowl 20-19, this time on a missed late field goal attempt by Scott Norwood to win the game. After the Super Bowl, Walls earned another cover shot on Sports Illustrated, this time raising his hands in victory.

Everson Walls led the league in interceptions three times in his first five seasons in the NFL. He is the only player to lead the league in interceptions more than twice, yet he has inexplicably been overlooked for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. No other NFL player who has lead the league more than twice in any major category such as passing, rushing, pass receptions, or sacks, has failed to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Football,