Michael Walter played high school football on a whim his senior season and got recruited to play at Oregon in 1980.
He initially started as an LB before transitioning to DE midway through his Freshman campaign.
Really came on as a Senior, when he had 18 TFL and 13 sacks.
Selected in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.
Converted to LB, but played sparingly, mainly on special teams.
After drafting a bunch of linebackers in the ’84 draft, Walter was cut.
Signed with the San Fransisco 49ers the next day, and was moved to ILB.
Became a regular starter the following season.
Led the ‘9ers in tackles from 1987-’89.
Picked off John Elway during Super Bowl XXIV as the ‘9ers cruised to a 55-10 win over the Broncos.
With Ken Norton Jr signed by SF in 1994, Michael was not resigned by the team and opted to retire.
NOTES:
Mike is one of the few NFL players to have donned pads for both Tom Landry and Bill Walsh. He appears in both Tecmo Bowl and its sequel Tecmo Super Bowl for the 49ers.
CARD: Fleer 1990, Action Packed 1990, Pro Set 1989 ACQUIRED: eBay, 2025, TTM 2026, C/o Home SENT: 3/21/26 RECEIVED: 4/9/26 (19 days) FAILURE: TTM 2021, C/o San Diego Strikeforce
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Burt Grossman rose to prominence as a defensive end for Pitt from 1985-88.
A rangy, prototypical defensive lineman, with great speed, Burt was limited in his Senior campaign in ’88 due to an ankle injury.
Still managed to post 71 tackles, 7 sacks and 17 quarterback pressures.
Highest rated defensive lineman who was selected 8th overall, in the 1989 NFL Draft.
Plugged in as a starter at RDE and posted 10 sacks and 60+ tackles in back to back seasons (1989 and 1990).
Played for the San Diego Chargers through the ’93 campaign.
In 5 seasons, Burt tallied 255 tackles, 38.0 sacks, 3 safeties, and 5 fumbles in 71 games.
Signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994, and tallied 21 tackles and 5.5 sacks, before suffering a career ending neck injury.
Afterwards Burt went into TV and media journalism writing for the now defunct “National Football Post” and co-hosting the Eagles Hour.
Named HC of the IFL San Diego Strikeforce in 2019.
After COVID, Burt did not return to coach the team.
ACCOLADES:
Regional Sports Emmy Award 1995
NOTES:
Burt’s not a reliable signer TTM so I went ahead and picked this one up via eBay. Then literally a week or so after I put this post together, he just started signing out of the blue! I ran the Pro Set and the Action Packed out the door as soon as I could, but couldn’t find the Skybox 92. The TTM gods were looking out for me as a half torn, damaged envelope arrived with the two autographs inside.
Despite his injury shortened career ‘Big Mouth’ was a pretty solid DL notching 43.5 sacks in 6 seasons. Burt’s legendary big mouth was chronicled in Sports Illustrated in 1990.
As the Fun Bunch emerged- the ‘Skins WR corps, Don became more and more valued and integral as a blocker, especially in the run game.
Started 65 consecutive contests, before a rib injury caused him to miss two consecutive games in 1988.
In 1990, became one of three ‘Skins players to play in 3 different decades.
Retired after the 1992 campaign after finishing second in franchise history with 244 receptions (since surpassed).
He then went into coaching sports at the high school level.
Worked as a scout from 2005-’09 for the ‘Skins, before heading over to Carolina from 2010-’19.
Returned to Washington in 2020 and operated as the franchise’s senior pro scout through the ’21 season.
Retired officially in mid-2022.
ACCOLADES:
80 Greatest Redskins
NOTES:
Don for many years didn’t sign TTM and then all of a sudden near the tail end of 2025, he started signing, so I dropped these two set needs in the mail for the all star blocker.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
