View source for Walt Sweeney

{{Short description|American football player (1941–2013)}}
{{other people|Walter Sweeney}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox gridiron football biography
| name          = Walt Sweeney
| image         = Walt Sweeney 1969.jpg 
| caption       = Sweeney {{circa|1969}}
| number        = 78
| position      = [[Guard (gridiron football)|Guard]]
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1941|4|18|mf=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Cohasset, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{death date and age|2013|2|2|1941|4|18|mf=y}}
| death_place   = [[San Diego|San Diego, California]], U.S.
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 4
| weight_lb     = 256
| high_school   = [[Cohasset High School|Cohasset]]
| college       = [[Syracuse Orange football|Syracuse]] (1959–1962)
| draftyear     = 1963
| draftround    = 8
| draftpick     = 107
| afldraftyear  = 1963
| afldraftround = 1
| afldraftpick  = 2
| pastteams     =
* [[San Diego Chargers]] ([[1963 American Football League season|1963]]–{{NFL Year|1973}})
* [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|1974|1975}})
| highlights    =
* [[American Football League playoffs|AFL champion]] ([[1963 American Football League Championship Game|1963]])
* 2× First-team [[American Football League All-League Team|All-AFL]] ([[1967 All-AFL Team|1967]], [[1968 All-Pro Team|1968]])
* 2× Second-team All-AFL ([[All-AFL|1965]], [[1969 All-AFL Team|1969]])
* 6× [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] (1964–1969)
* 3× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1971 Pro Bowl|1970]]–[[1973 Pro Bowl|1972]])
* Second-team [[American Football League All-Time Team|AFL All-Time Team]]
* [[Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame]]
* [[List of San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team|San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team]]
* Second-team All-East ([[1962 All-East football team|1962]])
| statleague    = NFL/AFL
| statlabel1    = Games played
| statvalue1    = 181
| statlabel2    = Games started
| statvalue2    = 167
| statlabel3    = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3    = 2
| pfr           = S/SweeWa00 
}}

'''Walter Francis Sweeney''' (April 18, 1941 – February 2, 2013) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[Guard (gridiron football)|guard]] in the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Syracuse Orange football|Syracuse Orange]] and was named to the school's all-century team. He also played in the [[East–West Shrine Bowl#History|North–South Bowl]] and the [[Chicago Charities College All-Star Game|College All-Star Game]]. A first-round draft pick of the [[San Diego Chargers]] in 1963, Sweeney helped them win the [[American Football League playoffs|AFL championship]].

== Early life ==
Sweeney was born on April 18, 1941, in [[Cohasset, Massachusetts]] to Jack and Mary Ann (McCormick) Sweeney. He was the youngest of seven children. Jack Sweeney was killed by a drunk driver when Sweeney was two years old.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Walt Sweeney Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SweeWa00.htm |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="la">{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Tony |date=2013-02-07 |title=Walt Sweeney dies at 71; offensive guard for the San Diego Chargers |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-walt-sweeney-20130207-story.html |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2013-02-07 |title=Walt Sweeney, All-Pro and Critic of N.F.L., Dies at 71 (Published 2013) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/sports/football/walt-sweeney-all-pro-and-nfl-critic-dies-at-71.html |access-date=2025-08-12 |language=en}}</ref> Sweeney's own alcohol and drug abuse, and battle against addiction, would become a well-known feature of his life. 

He attended [[Cohasset High School]], where he was a [[running back]] on the football team.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=November 29, 1957 |title=Cohasset Beats Hull, Ends Year Unbeaten |work=The Boston Globe |pages=10}}</ref> The team was undefeated in 1957.<ref name=":0" /> In 1958, he was one of the top-scoring offensive players among 120 Boston area high schools.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 26, 1958 |title=King Size Linemen On East Boston List |work=The Boston Globe |pages=17}}</ref> Sweeney was the first Cohasset student to play in the National Football League.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Archer |first=Todd |date=November 5, 1989 |title=Cohasset may drop football |work=The Boston Globe |pages=South 15}}</ref>

== College ==
Sweeney attended [[Syracuse Orange football|Syracuse University]] on a football scholarship.<ref name=":3" /> He played [[wide receiver]] or [[tight end]] on the varsity football team from 1960 to 1962, as well as [[defensive end]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> His best season as a receiver was as a junior in 1961, catching nine passes for 137 yards and one touchdown.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Walt Sweeney College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/walt-sweeney-1.html |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> As a senior, he was an All-American football player, on an 8–2 team.<ref name=":1" /> He was used mostly as a blocker and defensive end as a senior in 1962.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last= |date=December 9, 1962 |title=Chargers Ink No. 1 Choice |work=The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) |pages=113 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He had lost his scholarship before the 1962 season started because of his involvement in a drunken brawl, but a wealthy alumnus paid his tuition that year.<ref name=":3" />

Sweeney played under [[College Football Hall of Fame]] head coach [[Ben Schwartzwalder]], and on the same team as future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] tight end [[John Mackey (American football)|John Mackey]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 20, 1962 |title=How About Interior |work=The Standard-Star (New Rochelle, New York) |pages=23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ben Schwartzwalder (1982) - Hall of Fame |url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1753 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=National Football Foundation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=John Mackey {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/john-mackey |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> He also played with future NFL players [[Jim Nance]] and [[Dave Meggyesy|Dave Meggyesey]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 19, 1962 |title=Returning starters |work=Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Maine) |pages=11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1962 Syracuse Orange Roster |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/syracuse/1962-roster.html |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> After his final Syracuse game in early December 1962, Sweeney signed a contract with [[Sid Gillman]] to play for the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League, on national television, while still on the field after the game.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last= |date=December 9, 1962 |title=Chargers Sign Syracuse End |work=The Daily Report (Ontario, California) |pages=25 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Syracuse upset UCLA in that game 12–7, with Sweeney being named outstanding lineman of the game.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=December 9, 1962 |title=Orange Stun Uclans 12–7 |work=The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) |pages=110 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

Sweeney played in the [[North–South All-Star Classic|North-South game]] in late December 1962 and the [[Senior Bowl]] in early 1963.<ref name=":2" /> He also played in the third annual All-American game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gleason |first=Martin |date=March 30, 1963 |title=VanderKelen, Lamonica, Griffing With All-Stars |work=The Herald-News (Passaic, New Jersey) |pages=38}}</ref> He was also selected to play in the [[Chicago Charities College All-Star Game|College All Star Game]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cordry |first=George |date=July 31, 1964 |title=Sweeney, Gross Key Figures For Champs |work=Daily Times-Advocate (Escondido, California) |pages=8}}</ref> He was named second-team All East, along with Mackey, by the [[Associated Press]] in 1962.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=November 30, 1962 |title=Four Penn State Players On All-East |work=Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) |pages=24 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

In 1999, he was selected as a member of Syracuse’s All-Century Team.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=All-Century Team |url=https://cuse.com/sports/2018/2/8/all-century-team |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |language=en}}</ref> 

==Professional career==
The NFL's [[Cleveland Browns]] selected Sweeney in the 8th round of the [[1963 NFL draft]], 107th overall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1963/draft.htm |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The San Diego Chargers selected Sweeney with the 2nd overall draft pick in the [[1963 American Football League draft|1963 AFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 AFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1963_AFL/draft.htm |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Immediately after Sweeney's final Syracuse game on December 8, 1962, while on national television and still on the playing field, he signed a contract with [[Sid Gillman]] to play for the Chargers.<ref name=":6" /> Although Sweeney had been used as a blocking end on offense and at defensive end, Gillman planned to make Sweeney a guard when he joined the Chargers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 9, 1962 |title=Chargers Sign Walt Sweeney Of Syracuse U. |work=The Houston Post |pages=42}}</ref> 

A premier guard, Sweeney was versatile enough to fill virtually any offensive line position.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}} Sweeney spent 11 seasons as an offensive guard with the Chargers, then played two seasons with the [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]]; his career ending in 1975, after a severe knee injury.<ref name="la" />

The Chargers won the AFL championship in Sweeney's 1963 rookie season. Sweeney played a number of roles on the 1963 championship team, but did not start any games at guard. His chief contribution was on special teams, as a tackler, playing less than 30 minutes overall during the season at guard.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 San Diego Chargers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sdg/1963.htm |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":13">{{Cite news |last=Cordry |first=George |date=July 31, 1964 |title=Sweeney, Gross Key Figures For Champs |work=The Daily Times-Advocate (Escondido, California) |pages=8}}</ref> 

Sweeney was slotted as a starting guard going into the 1964 season, having put on considerable muscle after working with weights in the off-season.<ref name=":13" /> As Sweeney himself later stated, he had also been supplied with steroids by the Chargers.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":10" /> He started all 14 games at guard in 1964, and would start every regular season game for the Chargers from 1964 through 1973.<ref name=":7" /> He was named to AFL All-Star teams and NFL [[Pro Bowl]]s for eight or nine consecutive years at offensive guard, beginning with the 1964 or 1965 [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star Team]].<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Tobias |first=Todd |title=>The AFL All-Time Second Team |url=https://talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/the-afl-all-time-second-team/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Tales from the AFL |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tobias |first=Todd |title=1965 AFL All-Star Game Rosters |url=https://talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/488-2/1965-afl-all-star-game-rosters/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Tales from the AFL |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tobias |first=Todd |title=1964 AFL All-Star Game Rosters |url=https://talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com/488-2/1964-afl-all-star-game-rosters/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Tales from the AFL |language=en-US}}</ref> 

In 1970, Sweeney was selected to the [[American Football League All-Time Team|All-Time All-AFL]] second-team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Football League All-time Team |url=http://www.remembertheafl.com/AFLAllTimeTeam.htm |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=www.remembertheafl.com}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> In 1965, the [[Associated Press]] (AP) selected him second-team All-AFL.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1965 AFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1965_AFL/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1967, the AP, [[Newspaper Enterprise Association]] (NEA) and [[United Press International]] (UPI) selected him first-team [[American Football League All-League Team|All-AFL]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1967 AFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967_AFL/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1968, the AP and NEA again selected him first-team All-AFL, as did ''[[The Sporting News]]''; and ''[[Pro Football Weekly]]'' selected him first-team All-AFL/NFL.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1968 AFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1968_AFL/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1969, the NEA and ''Pro Football Weekly'' named him first-team All-AFL/NFL and UPI named him first-team All-AFL.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1969 AFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1969_AFL/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1970, the first year of the AFL/NFL merger into the National Football League, the NEA selected him first-team [[All-Pro]], and the AP and ''Pro Football Weekly'' named him first-team All-AFC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1970 NFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1970/probowl.htm |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1971, the NEA named him a second-team All-Pro, and AP and UPI named him first-team All-AFC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1971 NFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1971/probowl.htm |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

After starting in 140 straight games for the Chargers from 1964 to 1973, he was traded to the Washington Redskins after the 1973 season for future draft picks. He then started 27 straight games for Washington. Sweeney had knee surgery in 1975 before the season started. His career ended in the last regular season game of the 1975 season with another knee injury, when he was clipped by a [[Philadelphia Eagles]] defensive lineman. Sweeney thought there was some irony and justice in his being injured on an illegal maneuver, "'after all the defensive tackles I had held through the years", including pulling on opponents' face masks.<ref name=":14">{{Cite news |last= |date=October 18, 1977 |title=Sweeney Confesses: 'Was Good At Holding' |work=Daily News (New York, New York) |pages=603 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Norman |date=September 15, 1974 |title=Dallas To Repeat; Eagles 2d |work=Chicago Tribune |pages=147}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Burris |first=Joe |date=October 3, 1995 |title=Lost in the shuffle |work=The Boston Globe |pages=43, 46}}</ref>
== Drug use and conflict with NFL ==
Sweeney had been a heavy drinker, but stated he was introduced to drug use during his early years with the Chargers, and consistently took drugs to enhance his performance throughout his entire career. Sweeney stated that early in his career Chargers' trainers and team doctors provided him and other players with amphetamines, sedatives, pain killers and steroids as a normal part of game preparation; and that players could even be fined if they did not take the steroids provided by the team.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":12" /> Sweeney described the atmosphere with the Chargers as "'It was like the wild, wild West .... Everything went. There was speed, painkillers, steroids. And if there was a guy around like [[Terrell Owens]] at that time, someone would have kicked his ass all over the field.'"<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=2009-01-28 |title=OTL: Football's first steroids team? The '63 Chargers |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=3866837 |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

The Chargers had become the first team to hire a weight training specialist, beginning in their 1963 training camp. In Gillman's biography, ''Sid Gillman Father Of The Passing Game'', it states that this new trainer provided the players with a then legal steroid, [[Metandienone|Dianabol]], which they were to take three times a day. Failure to do so resulted in a $50 fine.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last=Katzowitz |first=Josh |title=Sid Gillman Father Of The Passing Game |publisher=Clerisy Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-57860-505-7 |pages=167–69 |language=en-US}}</ref> A group of players, led by future Hall of Fame tackle and attorney [[Ron Mix]], successfully fought the requirement to take the pills. The team still provided Dianabol during the 1963 and 1964 seasons, and even after that the team doctors are alleged to have written Dianabol prescriptions for some players during the 1965 to 1970 time period.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ron Mix {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/ron-mix |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":10" /> 

After the NFL began implementing penalties for drug use, Sweeney was among several Chargers fined by the league in 1974 for drug use. Sweeney was fined $1,000, and claimed he had done nothing illegal.<ref name="la" /><ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite news |last= |title=Svare Takes Blame For Drug Charges |work=The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, Louisiana) |pages=56 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> 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.'"<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Slotnik |first=Daniel E. |date=2013-02-07 |title=Walt Sweeney, All-Pro and Critic of N.F.L., Dies at 71 (Published 2013) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/sports/football/walt-sweeney-all-pro-and-nfl-critic-dies-at-71.html?hpw&_r=0 |access-date=2025-08-14 |language=en}}</ref> Sweeney ultimately filed a lawsuit against the NFL, alleging that the drugs originally provided by the Charges led to his addiction, resulting in cognitive and personal injuries. The NFL argued it was Sweeney's own choice to use those drugs, and that any injuries he had were the result of playing in NFL games, and that such injuries would be addressed by the league's pension fund. Sweeney was victorious at trial in 1995, winning $1.8 million, but that decision was reversed on appeal in 1997.<ref name=":8" />

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. Even during this time, however, he continued to take drugs.<ref name="la" /> It was only in the recent years before his death in 2013 that Sweeney was able to get his addiction under control.<ref name="la" />

== Legacy and honors ==
Sweeney, who stood 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and weighed 256 pounds (116.1 kg),<ref name=":7" /> was such an aggressive and intimidating presence on the field that Hall of Fame defensive tackle [[Merlin Olsen]] famously remarked, "'If I had to play against Sweeney every day I'd rather sell used cars'".<ref name="la"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Merlin Olsen {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/merlin-olsen |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> Olsen once went into the Chargers’ huddle to tell Sweeney if he grabbed Olsen’s face mask again Olsen would break Sweeney’s neck.<ref name=":14" /> In his Los Angeles Times' obituary, it was indicated that Sweeney’s aggressiveness was attributable in part to Sweeney's use of amphetamines in playing games.<ref name="la" /> 

Sweeney was inducted into the [[Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame|Chargers Hall of Fame]] in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles Chargers, Legends, Chargers Hall of Fame |url=https://www.chargers.com/team/history/legends/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=www.chargers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Sweeney to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hall of Very Good Class of 2009 |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2009.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707030900/http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2009.htm |archive-date=July 7, 2018 |access-date=November 23, 2016}}</ref>

In 2012, Sweeney wrote his autobiography with sports author Bill Swank, entitled ''Off Guard''.<ref name="la" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sweeney |first1=Walt |title=Off Guard |last2=Swank |first2=Bill |date=August 15, 2012 |publisher=Silvercat |isbn=978-1893067127 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Sweeney's life was difficult after retirement, including failed marriages, encounters with the police, job losses, the reversal in his lawsuit, four knee replacements and a hip replacement; all leading to a feeling of hopelessness.<ref name="la" />

==Death==
Sweeney died of [[pancreatic cancer]] on February 2, 2013, at his home in [[San Diego|San Diego, California]].<ref>[https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/8916074/standout-chargers-lineman-walt-sweeney-dies-71 Walt Sweeney obituary], espn.go.com; accessed September 29, 2014.</ref> He was survived by his children Kristin and Patrick.<ref name="la" />

==See also==
* [[List of American Football League players]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Browns1963DraftPicks}}
{{San Diego Chargers 1963 draft navbox}}
{{1963 San Diego Chargers}}
{{ChargersFirstPick}}
{{50Chargers}}
{{Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame}} 
{{AFL1960s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sweeney, Walt}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:American Football League All-Star players]]
[[Category:American Football League All-Time Team]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:San Diego Chargers players]]
[[Category:Syracuse Orange football players]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins players]]
[[Category:People from Cohasset, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Norfolk County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Deaths from pancreatic cancer in California]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]