With the 2024 NFL Draft in the rear view mirror, let’s pivot to the NFL Alumni Super Bowl of Golf: Qualifier happening at TPC San Antonio on Monday, May 6 — a golfing event aiming to raise $500,000 for the NFL Alumni’s non-profit, Caring for Kids, and local non-profits like Eva’s Heroes.
City Editor Adriana caught up with former Holmes Huskie, UT Longhorn, and Green Bay Packer, Johnny Walker, to discuss the association, the tournament, and his ties to the Alamo City.
Please note, responses from Johnny Walker have been edited for length and clarity.
Tell us what you’re doing here today:
The NFL Alumni got together and had the opportunity to team up with Whataburger and some of the different organizations here. We thought it would be a great opportunity to have a golf tournament and raise money for local organizations in San Antonio.
How long have you been part of the NFL Alumni Association?
This is my third year. They did a mass call out to all the former (NFL) players and needed some from San Antonio. So since I’m from San Antonio, it was a great opportunity to be a part of and continue doing a lot of things for the community.
What are your ties to San Antonio?
I went to Holmes High School, and after that I decided to go to the University of Texas (at Austin) to play football + baseball. I got drafted by the Atlanta Braves my junior year of college, and came back to finish my last year with the University of Texas football team and got drafted by the Green Bay Packers.
Are you going to be playing in the golf tournament?
I’m going to be losing some golf balls — I guess we’ll call that playing. I will definitely be out there playing and making sure that my team is going to do as well as they possibly can because there’s always some great awards and events that come after as well. Again, it’s for a great cause.
What is goal for the tournament and what do you hope to get out of the initiative this year?
We continue to generate revenue and raising funds for some of the great organizations like Morgan’s Wonderland, which is an amazing facility. I think what Gordon Hartman has done is amazing. I have a special needs child so it’s amazing to be able to have a place they can go and feel comfortable, and where families can participate.
In all, just to be able to raise money for these organizations. It’s also important for us (NFL Alumni Association) to be part of that, and I’m happy to be part of that.
Depending on the success of this tournament, do you think this tournament will return to San Antonio next year?
We have a five-year deal with San Antonio. I was one of the advocates for bringing more things to San Antonio because everything is always done in Austin, Houston, or Dallas, and I thought “why not San Antonio?”
