Wayne Walker played college football at the University of Idaho. During his senior year, he was named team captain and played in the 1958 College All-Star Game.

Walker then went on to the NFL, where he played 15 years for the Detroit Lions from 1958 to 1972.

After his retirement from the NFL, Walker began his career in broadcasting at KPIX-TV, the CBS affiliate in San Francisco, where he stayed as sports director for twenty years from 1974 to 1994. During his later years, Walker was also a sports commentator for the San Francisco 49ers’ and Oakland Athletics broadcasts. He was also a color commentated on regional CBS NFL games.