Walter Francis Sweeney (April 18, 1941 – February 2, 2013) was an American professional football guard who played in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Syracuse Orange and was named to the school's all-century team.^{[citation needed]} He also played in the North–South Bowl and the College All-Star Game. A first-round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers in 1963, Sweeney helped them win the AFL championship.

Career

A premier guard, Sweeney was versatile enough to fill virtually any offensive line position. He was named to All-Star teams and Pro Bowls for nine consecutive years at offensive guard, beginning with the 1964 AFL All-Star Team, and in 1970 was selected to the All-Time All-AFL second-team. Sweeney spent 11 seasons as an offensive guard with the Chargers, then played two seasons with the Washington Redskins.^[1] The Professional Football Researchers Association named Sweeney to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2009 ^[2]

Sweeney, who stood 6'4" and weighed 256 pounds, was such an intimidating presence on the field that Merlin Olsen famously remarked he'd "rather sell used cars" than play against Sweeney each game.^[1] Sweeney was among several Chargers fined by the league in 1974 for drug use.^[1] A fierce critic of the NFL, he blamed the league for his prolonged problems with drugs and alcohol. Towards the end of his life he retained this bitterness. "If a guy breaks his back in the N.F.L., they'll pay him. That didn't happen to me. Instead, these guys broke my mind."^[3] He briefly served as a drug counselor at a San Diego hospital and appeared with Nancy Reagan in a promo for her "Just Say No" campaign.^[1]

Death

Sweeney died of pancreatic cancer on February 2, 2013, at his home in San Diego, California.^[4]