Wide Receiver
No. 84
Richmond
"Gillette came to the Giants on waivers from the Cardinals on cutdown day in 1974 and proved to be as fine an addition as anyone on the club. He won a starting job at wide receiver halfway through the '74 season when Don Herrmann was injured, and through the second half of the campaign was the top target for Craig Morton. Walker finished the year with 29 receptions for 466 yards and three touchdowns, with 28 of those catches coming in the final seven games. He almost had sweet revenge against St. Louis when he caught a 17-yard touchdown pass to put the Giants up 21-20 in the final minute of play, but Jim Bakken's field goal in the final three seconds pulled it out for the Cardinals.
In 1975, he was a starter all season long and became the club's top receiver with 43 catches for 600 yards, a 14.0 average and two touchdowns. Walker had another good day against the Cardinals with six catches for 100 yards and one of his touchdowns. In 13 games last year, his totals fell off considerably as he had but 16 catches for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Walker was originally a No. 1 draft choice of the San Diego Chargers in 1970 but saw only limited duty there with 12 catches in two seasons. He was traded to St. Louis in 1972 for Dave Williams and had his best season that year when he grabbed 33 passes for 550 yards and two touchdowns. He had 20 catches in 1973, including a 48-yard touchdown against the Giants.
Gillette was an All-American at Richmond, winning three varsity letters and appearing in the College All-Star game as well as the East-West Game and Hula Bowl. His collegiate totals showed 158 catches for 2,649 yards.
Walker Adams Gillette was born in Norfolk, Virginia and starred at Southampton High School there. His father, Jim, played in the NFL with Washington, Green Bay and the Cleveland Rams."
-1977 New York Giants Media Guide
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