{{Short description|American football player (1941–2026)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Use American English|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox gridiron football biography | name = Walt Rock | number = 67, 76 | position = Offensive tackle | position_2 = Defensive tackle | birth_date = {{birth date|1941|11|04}} | birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|05|19|1941|11|04}} | death_place = Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lb = 255 | high_school = Elyria (Elyria, Ohio) | college = Maryland (1959–1962) | draftyear = 1963 | draftround = 2 | draftpick = 21 | afldraftyear = 1963 | afldraftround = 2 | afldraftpick = 16 | pastteams = * San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|1963|1967}}) * Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1968|1973}}) * Florida Blazers (1974) | highlights = * Pro Bowl (1965) * First-team All-ACC (1962) | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 137 | statlabel2 = Games started | statvalue2 = 126 | statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue3 = 5 | pfr = RockWa00 }}
'''Walter Warfield Rock''' (November 4, 1941 – May 19, 2026) was an American professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/waltrock/2524400/profile|title=Walt Rock|website=NFL.com|access-date=2017-01-10}}</ref> He played in Super Bowl VII for the Washington Redskins and was a member of the "Over-the-Hill Gang". Rock was also a member on the NFL's All Star Team. Several injuries to his right ankle ended his twelve-year career with the NFL. Rock played college football for the Maryland Terrapins and was selected in the second round of the 1963 NFL draft. He was also selected in the second round of the 1963 AFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
During Rock's time with Washington, his win–loss record was 48–33, and during which he made it to Super Bowl VII. Before losing 14–7 to the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl, the 1972 Redskins won the divisional playoffs versus the Green Bay Packers 16–3, and were conference champions by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 26–3. As a member of the “Over-the-Hill Gang,” Walter prospered on the Redskins in their “all-star” years. Even before his all-star team developed under coach George Allen, he was picked in only his second year in the NFL for the 1965 Pro-Bowl. Playing for the Eastern Conference, they lost to the Western Conference 34–14.<ref>Walt Rock at https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RockWa00.htm, retrieved 04-01-2015.</ref>
== Early life == Rock was born in Cleveland, Ohio on November 4, 1941.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Walt Rock Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RockWa00.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He grew up a Cleveland Browns fan, attending Browns’ games with his grandfather who encouraged him to become a football player.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=August 11, 1966 |title=2 Ohio 49ers Await Browns |work=Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) |pages=10 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Klingaman |first=Mike |date=2015-10-29 |title=Catching Up With … former Maryland, NFL tackle Walter Rock |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2015/10/29/catching-up-with-former-maryland-nfl-tackle-walter-rock/ |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> He attended Elyria High School, in Elyria, Ohio, and was a two-way player on the football team. Rock played offensive left end on its football team. In an October 24, 1958 game, Rock had touchdown receptions of 40 and 70 yards in the game's first quarter. He was also Elyria's left end on defense. As a senior in 1958, the 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) or 6 ft 4½ in (1.94 m) 205 lb. (93 kg) Rock was first team All-Buckeye Conference on both offense and defense as an end.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 18, 1958 |title=Prexies Land 7 on All-League Team |work=The Marion Star (Marion, Ohio) |pages=14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 17, 1958 |title=BC First Team |work=The Sandusky Register (Sandusky, Ohio) |pages=14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 25, 1958 |title=Elyria, Steeler Buckeye Winners |work=The Sandusky Register (Sandusky, Ohio) |pages=10}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Helt |first=Scottie |date=July 2, 1972 |title=Skins' Big Rock Not So Tall on the Field |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia) |pages=66}}</ref>
As a senior, he went from 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb. (88.5 kg) at the first of the year, to 6 ft 4½ in and 218 lb. (98.9 kg) by the end of the year.<ref name=":0" /> Basketball was Rock's first love among sports, and he played on Elyria's basketball team. In 1959, he was voted among that season's outstanding players by Cleveland area basketball coaches.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 23, 1957 |title=Elyria Opens Season With 87–52 Victory |work=The News Messenger (Fremont, Ohio) |pages=10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 3, 1959 |title=3 City Cages Are Nominated |work=The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) |pages=28}}</ref> In 1972, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1970’s |url=https://www.elyriasportshalloffame.org/inductees/1970s/ |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=Elyria Sports Hall of Fame (OH) |language=en-US}}</ref>
== College == Rock was recruited by a number of Big Ten teams, but chose to attend the University of Maryland after being convinced by Maryland assistant coach Bernie Reid, a fellow Ohioan. He played on the football team under head coach Tommy Nugent. As a sophomore in 1960, he was now a 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 230 lb. (104.3) end on offense, including a role as a pass receiver.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Horner |first=Jack |date=September 7, 1960 |title=Maryland Grid Squad Is Young, Ambitious |work=The Herald-Sun (Duram, North Carolina) |pages=12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Horner |first=Jack |date=September 7, 1960 |title=Terrapins To Have An Octopus |work=The Herald-Sun (Durham, North Carolina) |pages=12}}</ref> As a junior, he became the starter at guard when regular guard Tom Sankovich was hospitalized with a kidney injury, while also playing tackle on defense.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=November 3, 1961 |title=Elyria's Rock Starts at Maryland Tomorrow |work=The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) |pages=27 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> He played both guard and tackle as a senior.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 11, 1963 |title=Colt Capers |work=The Evening Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) |pages=33}}</ref> Rock was honorable mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at guard as a junior in 1961.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 30, 1961 |title=Gabriel, Collins Head ACC 11 |work=The News and Advance (Lynchburg, Virginia) |pages=29}}</ref> As a senior in 1962, he was named first-team All-ACC at guard.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 29, 1962 |title=Willard, Graham, Rowley Win Second Team Places |work=The Richmond News Leader (Richmond, Virginia) |pages=49}}</ref>
He was selected to play at tackle in the 1962 Blue-Gray Game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moseley |first=Max |date=December 29, 1962 |title=Nation's Top Stars Clash In Blue-Gray |work=The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama) |pages=7}}</ref> He was also selected to play at guard in the 1963 Chicago College All-Star Game against the Green Bay Packers; however, he suffered an injury before that game.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=June 2, 1963 |title=Pick Vandy, Richter On All-Star 11 |work=The Post-Crescent (Appleton, Wisconsin) |pages=11 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=August 28, 1963 |title=49er Fate Depends On Rookies |work=The Sacramento Union |pages=20 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
== Professional football ==
=== San Francisco 49ers === The San Francisco 49ers selected Rock in the second round of the 1963 NFL draft, 21st overall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1963/draft.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was also selected in the second round of the American Football League (AFL) draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, 16th overall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 AFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1963_AFL/draft.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He immediately signed with San Francisco after the selection was announced.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=December 5, 1962 |title=N.F.L. Signs New Players |work=The Baltimore Sun |pages=26 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He signed for a $13,000 salary and $6,000 bonus.<ref name=":5" />
As a rookie in 1963, Rock was assigned to play defensive end as a reserve, and to play on special teams. During a punt return in a game against the Minnesota Vikings in September 1963, Rock was hit with a "teeth-rattling" block from the aptly named Steve Stonebreaker to free returner Bill Butler for a touchdown. Rock played in only seven games on the season, however, due to a knee injury that required surgery and ended his season.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=September 30, 1963 |title=Vikings Rebound to New Record |work=St. Cloud Times (St. Cloud, Minnesota) |pages=27 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=September 6, 1963 |title=All 49ers Are Ready For Rams |work=The Modesto Bee |pages=B-8 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 30, 1963 |title=Limping 49ers Try To Prep For Lions |work=Daily Independent Journal (San Rafael, California) |pages=17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=October 31, 1963 |title=Two New 49ers |work=Republican and Herald (Pottsville, Pennsylvania) |pages=18 |agency=United Press International}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
In 1964, Rock became the 49ers' starting right offensive tackle when future Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob St. Clair was injured in training camp, ending his NFL career.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=September 26, 1964 |title=Ailing 49ers Tackle Cards |work=Redwood City Tribune (Redwood City, California) |pages=9 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bob St. Clair Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/St.CBo00.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bob St. Clair {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/bob-st-clair |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> Rock started all 14 games in 1964 at right tackle. He did so again in 1965 and was selected to the 1965 Pro Bowl.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=1965 NFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1965/probowl.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Rock signed a two-year contract in 1966, subject to the NFL's option clause. He started all 14 games at right tackle for the 49ers in both 1966 and 1967. In 1967, the 49ers flew him home to Arlington, Virginia two days a week to work in his family’s garage door installation business in nearby Washington, D.C. He did not report to the 49ers training camp in 1968, seeking to be traded to the Baltimore Colts or Washington Redskins where he could be closer to his family's business. <ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Jacoubowsky |first=Ed |date=August 31, 1968 |title=60,000 To See 49ers, Raiders |work=Redwood City Tribune (Redwood City, California) |pages=8}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last= |date=July 19, 1968 |title=49ers' Rock Wants Trade |work=The Times-Herald (Vallejo, California) |pages=23 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last= |date=August 9, 1968 |title=Walter Rock May Retire At Age 26 |work=Danville Register and Bee (Danville, Virginia) |pages=11 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> Under then current NFL practices, players who sought to play for another team after playing out their contracts, subject to an option clause, were still limited by Commissioner Pete Rozelle's ability to require that the new team compensate the original team with players or draft picks of equal value. In Rock's case, Rozelle determined he was worth a No. 1 draft pick. Rock was eventually traded to Washington in September 1968 for a 1970 first round draft pick.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wallace |first=William N. |date=1968-09-10 |title=Jim Taylor, Flatley Victims Of Final Cuts by Teams in N.F.L. (Published 1968) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/09/10/archives/jim-taylor-flatley-victims-of-final-cuts-by-teams-in-nfl.html |access-date=2025-08-27 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wallace |first=William N. |date=1968-09-01 |title=Rozelle Carries Ball on Option Play (Published 1968) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/09/01/archives/rozelle-carries-ball-on-option-play.html |access-date=2025-08-27 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Washington Redskins === Rock started 10 games at left tackle for Washington in 1968, with Jim Snowden at starting right tackle, under head coach Otto Graham. Graham already was in the Hall of Fame as a quarterback by that time, and was later selected as one of the NFL's 100 greatest players. After a 5–9 season, Graham was replaced by coaching legend Vince Lombardi, who would enter the Hall of Fame as a coach, and be selected as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. Of Lombardi, Rock later said "[He] was the type of person who, if you're lucky, you're able to be associated with once in your life...[he] brought something to Washington last year which has carried over: Be a believer!... He always told us, 'Believe in yourselves and stick together...then you can't lose.'" <ref>{{Cite news |last=Mills |first=Tom |date=October 27, 1970 |title=Walter Rock at TD Banquet: Redskin Praises Lombardi |work=The Frederick News-Post |pages=B1}}</ref> Lombardi made Rock the starting right tackle and Snowden the starting left tackle. Rock played in only 12 games, starting all of them at right tackle. Washington's record improved to 7–5–2 in 1969.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=1968 Washington Redskins Roster & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1968_roster.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Otto Graham {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/otto-graham |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL 100 |url=https://www.nfl.com/100/all-time-team/roster |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=September 3, 1969 |title=Despite Lombardi Redskins Look Same |work=Hobbs Daily News-Sun (Hobbs, New Mexico) |pages=6 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Vince Lombardi {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/vince-lombardi |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1969 Washington Redskins Roster & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1969_roster.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Lombardi died less than one year later,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wallace |first=William N. |date=1970-09-04 |title=Vince Lombardi, Football Coach, Dies (Published 1970) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/09/04/archives/vince-lombardi-football-coach-dies-vince-lombardi-pro-football.html |access-date=2025-08-27 |language=en}}</ref> and Rock started 13 games at right tackle under head coach Bill Austin in 1970, with the team falling to 6–8.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=1970 Washington Redskins Roster & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1970_roster.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1971, future Hall of Fame coach George Allen took over as Washington's head coach.<ref>{{Cite web |title=George Allen {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/george-allen |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> Rock started all 14 games at right tackle under Allen in both 1971 and 1972.<ref name=":1" /> The team finished 9–4–1 in 1971.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1971 Washington Redskins Roster & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1971_roster.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1971, the line of Rock, Snowden, guards Ray Schoenke and John Wilbur and center Len Hauss permitted only 17 quarterback sacks, second best in the NFL.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 10, 1972 |title=National Conference Preview, Washington Redskins |work=The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, Louisiana) |pages=13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1971 Washington Redskins Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1971.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1971 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1971/index.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Washington finished 11–3 in 1972, first in the NFC's East Division.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1972 Washington Redskins Roster & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1972_roster.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The offensive line, with Terry Hermeling and Paul Laaveg replacing Snowden and Schoenke, was again second best in the NFL in giving up only 11 sacks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1972 Washington Redskins Roster & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1972_roster.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1972 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1972/index.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Washington defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the 1972 National Football Conference championship game, 26–3,<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship – Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins – December 31st, 1972 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197212310was.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> but lost to the undefeated Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VII, 14–7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl VII – Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins – January 14th, 1973 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197301140mia.htm |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Allen’s teams in Washington were known as “The Over The Hill Gang” because of his penchant to trade draft picks for veteran players. However, the 1972 team’s average age of 28.8 years was only 1.2 years over the league average; and the majority of his starting players, like the recently turned 31-year old Rock, were already on the team when he arrived in 1971.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wallace |first=William N. |date=1973-01-03 |title=Allen's Gang Is Not So Over the Hill (Published 1973) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/03/archives/allens-gang-is-not-so-over-the-hill-ages-show-allens-gang-is-not-so.html |access-date=2025-08-27 |language=en}}</ref>
In 1973, Rock suffered injuries and only played in seven games.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=December 14, 1973 |title=Kilmer to Start for Redskins |work=Winston-Salem Journal (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) |pages=12 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Klein |first=Dave |date=October 21, 1973 |title=Pro Football Selections |work=The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) |pages=148}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaye |first=Roger |date=December 7, 1972 |title=Cowboy Notes |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |pages=32}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Washington coach George Allen waived Rock before the 1974 season.
== Personal life and death == After retiring from football, Rock continued with the garage door installation business full time. In 2010, he retired to Williamsburg, Virginia.<ref name=":5" /> He died there on May 19, 2026, at the age of 84.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vacremationsociety.com/obituary/walter-rock/ |title=Walter Rock |website=Cremation Society of Virginia |access-date=May 31, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{49ers1963DraftPicks}} {{Chiefs1963DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rock, Walt}} Category:1941 births Category:2026 deaths Category:American football offensive tackles Category:Maryland Terrapins football players Category:San Francisco 49ers players Category:Washington Redskins players Category:Western Conference Pro Bowl players Category:20th-century American sportsmen