Everson Walls: The Other Side of "The Catch" | NFL Films Presents 

Everson Walls, no matter how the picture was painted, was one of the best DB’s to ever play. HOF for sure

1. Only two players have led the NFL in interceptions three times, Walls is one of them, Ed Reed being the other. 2. He's 10th on the all-time interceptions list. 3. He's the 2nd or third best cornerback the Cowboys have ever had. 4. The first Sports Illustrated cover wouldn't have happened if Drew Pearson had worn a tear-away jersey (tear-aways were outlawed in 1979). 5. He's tied with Terrence Newman for the most seasons leading the Cowboys in interceptions (five). 6. He donated a kidney to Ron Springs, a former Cowboys teammate. 7. I'm probably not the only person who was thrilled when he became a world champion and certainly not the only person to notice the irony of him being on the cover of Sports Illustrated after winning Super Bowl XXV. 8. Thank you to NFL Films for this great video. It was also a tribute. 9. Everson Walls should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Class act. All his boys got his back "it wasn't his fault, you can't blame him", and he straight up says "I did something wrong, I didn't cover my man".

Everson Walls was an excellent player who was maybe having the best game out of anyone in that championship game. 2 picks and a fumble recovery. Walls ended up being lifelong friends with Dwight Clark. Kodak was using The Catch in some advertising campaign and Clark made sure that Walls got paid for being in the picture. Walls also donated a kidney for a former teammate

As a Niner fan, I really appreciate Everson Walls determination! He never gave up after "THE CATCH!" Great video! Great lesson for everyone. Don't let one bad event bring you down.

One mistake can't define a person. I love his redemption story.

How is this man not in the HOF?

This man belongs in the Hall of Fame. Just like Drew Pearson.

11 picks in his rookie year. My god

Every year on the anniversary of The Catch, Everson gets together with his former teammates to screen the movie "White Men Can't Jump".

Everson Walls is one of the great legendary Cowboys of all time. He would pick off more passes than the entire current team.

Back in the day I was a devoted "St. Louis" Cardinals fan, and my dad loved the Cowboys. We had a fierce rivalry, and the name "Everson Walls" just rings in my memory when I think back to those times. It's' like the announcer said his name every 5 minutes! "It's Everson Wallls" on the tackle.....Everson Walls breaks up the pass....Everson Walls with the interception!" On and on and on...he was everywhere. I literally got sick of hearing his name called out, as the Cowboys beat my Cards more often than not! lol But mad respect to this incredible football player!

☆EVERSON☆ best CB of my lifetime. put that man in the HALL OF FAME.

The players on the other side of immortal plays should have a support group. Everson walls, bryon Russell, Tyron lue, Rodney Harrison (helmet catch)...

I was a 49ers fan and watched the game with The Catch. I was also a Giants fan later and watched Norwood miss. I was glad to watch Everson play in BOTH games and the few I saw him in, between those. PLEASE pass on my appreciation for the pleasure of watching him play back then.

Well, as a Niner fan, that year's loss to the Giants in the NFC championship hurt, especially since they effectively ended Joe Montana's 49er career. That said, it's nice to hear it led to this kind of story for a deserving great player.

Walls has nothing to be ashamed of, and I'm speaking as a Niners' fan. He was a great defender, put up great numbers. On that one fateful pass to Clark, Walls had terrific coverage. Just watch how fast he recovered from Clark's endzone reverse. Few defenders were that fast.

I like how the nfl sometimes covers the people on the other side of glorious plays

He and Michael Downs became starters as free agents for the 'boys. Both should be in the Ring of Honor. Up Against The Walls

What an amazing finish to the story. Thrilled he is out there getting that message to all the kids. A great message for them to remember and hold onto. Good message for a game, great message for life. 👍🏻

Before Larry Brown Deion Sanders. There was Everson Walls one of the best defensive back of Dallas Cowboys history.

As a faithful Niner fan since a year before that play, I should say this is moving. This man should be in the HOF.

I always wondered the other perspective of the catch

I remember Everson Walls....he was a great player!

I remembered Everson Walls and Dwight Clark R.I.P Dwight Clark, gone but not forgotten

I remember watching that on tv. I thought for sure Montana threw it away & was shocked when Clark caught it. It was like he came out of no where no way you can defend that leap. A great play with a little luck thrown in. Walls had a great career I remember that as well.

Damn, he looks great! He hasn't changed much since his rookie year, only his hair color!

Senior Committee, Pro Football Hall of Fame: PLEASE VOTE WALLS INTO THE HALL!

“Don’t ever say i can’t win”

Everson Walls reminds me of Anthony Harris. Underrated ball hawking DB’s. Guys that will never get their deserved recognition until the HOF

Knowing how talented amd determined this DB was makes you doubly appreciate what Clark had to do in an already spectacular play.

Still my favorite SI cover of all time.. Bravo!.. Wasn’t a Giants fan, wasn’t a Cowboys fan, but I was a huge fan of Everton Walls.. I remember opening up the mailbox and a big smile coming across my face, because it was the perfect cover, perfectly stated, about possibly the greatest SB of them all..

I love this guy! They show a few guys say "you can't blame wells" and he goes yeah that was my b

I am a lifelong Cowboys fan and I love Walls. Dude's conditioning is outrageous. He's in great shape!

I’m really glad that catch didn’t derail his career. And what an amazing career it was! Truly an unreal talent especially for being undrafted, what a great story!

Happy for Walls glad he won a ring. He seem like nice guy. That was the 1990's Giants team so he got revenged on my 49ers at the NFCCG.

THIS MAN USE TO WORK FOR A MAYO COMPANY AND MADE IT BIG IN THE NFL. HIGHTOWER BEATS CEO.

Wow what an awesome Video!!!, I had no idea, this man is truly blessed

So glad I opened this up. I didn't know he was that good. Didn't know he played with the Giants( he misses that tackle, the Bills would've won on the touchdown run or a makeable field goal) All I knew about Walls, was he got posterized. Great video.

So unfair. The only thing keeping this all-time great DB out of the Hall of Fame is that damn picture.

Great player, true gentleman, and his career will not be defined by one play, and that's coming from a 49 fan who endured 1970, 1971 and 1972 Cowboys defeats. You are a class act Everson.

How is he not in the HOF?? I dont get it

Why have I never heard of this guy until now

Before there was a Jalen Ramsey, Darelle Revis ,Deion Sanders, Darrell Green, there was MR. Everson Walls.

Absolute GREATNESS!!!

One of my favorite memories of "Cubby", was, i believe, a very hyped MNF, or maybe Sunday? (I was a little kid) game against the raiders, some fan had a sign that said something like "Danny White can see through (Lester) Hayes, but Jim Plunkett can't see through Walls" I think we lost that game, but definitely had the best sign that night!

As a 47 year Cowboys fan, this game broke my heart. Dallas got the ball back. If the horse collar rule was in effect, Dallas has the ball in field goal range. Ronnie Lott still reminds people that the defense had to make the plays.

Everson Walls is one of the Greatest to ever play CB. And he will forever be remembered as a Cowboy Legend

That's the day I became a life long cowboys fan.

Watching this New Years Day, 2022. Lifelong Cowboy fan. I was so hurt by “The Catch,” that I didn’t go to school the next day. But this story illustrates why I love the game of football so much. To me it exemplifies the truth of never giving up. Be consistent. Always show up. Be special. And more than anything Believe in yourself. Thank you Everson Walls. Thank you Dallas Cowboys. Thank you NFL FILMS. Thank you God. I won’t give up. Ever.

Loved Everson Walls as a kid, as a Cowboys’ fan. Glad he got some redemption, he was truly great.

I never blamed him for that play. His interception rate was uncanny. I recall thinking it ironic when he ended up on the second SI cover winning in a Giants uniform. I recall thinking it being a great bookend story and now here it is officially recognized in film and story. I was ahead of the curve. I loved his Cowboy contributions. Felt good for him at the time for his song of redemption.

What a great piece. Walls was the first CB I followed as a fan.

Champion !!!

A true OG!

I’ve seen more athletic cornerbacks; but Walls was the greatest anticipator and ball hawk I’ve ever seen in a Dallas uniform. His hands were soft and his timing was excellent; and I can’t recall a time when he dropped a sure interception. Hell, he rarely dropped unsure interceptions, as it was. Occasionally, he’d get burned or miss a tackle; but he normally made you pay for throwing in his direction.

Everson Walls’ Super Bowl victory with the Giants was not only sweet redemption after “the catch” game in 1981 against San Francisco, but he got the ULTIMATE redemption on the way to his Super Bowl victory by going back to Candlestick Park in San Francisco for the 1990 NFC championship game and returning the favor.... CRUSHING the hearts of the 49ers and all their fans by preventing them from making history and being the first, and to date, only team to 3-peat! Just like Everson Walls said that he truly hasn’t ever gotten over “the catch”.....The 49ers have never gotten completely over that 1990 NFC championship loss!

Everson Walls was one of my favorite players back in a cowboys team loaded with favorites :) I thought then and still do that he was one of the best to play the position.

Great clip. Enjoyed this one.

Such an inspirational story ! ❤️

One of the Greatest Cornerback EVER..I always Mention Everson Walls whe Cb’s come up

Man, seeing JJ- John Jefferson, in the highlights! What a great WR! Hey NFL Films, do a feature on him!!

Met this dude over the weekend. He coached my kid. Outstanding coach and human..

Hall of Fame worthy! Everson Walls should be in the Hall of Fame period. It's a shame!

I Love This Story So Much!

So proud of Everson Walls,missed a chance to meet him recently,hope I get another, that he was truly a game changer. He intercepted Joe Montana twice,in THE CATCH ,he was looked down on,really? He had a great performance.So glad for his New York Giants success,leave it to Bill Parcels,And Bill Belichick to bring out the best he had always ,and to tackle ,saving win ,in the super bowl!

What a wonderful human being.

Man, what a fantastic video, rich in so many ways. Probably produced after Dwight's death. Great piece of history well told.

What I remember was after “The Catch” and Niners Super Bowl win, he picked off a pass in the Pro Bowl. I was new to football but I understood about the word bounce back, persistence and other motivational words without knowing the word from that action.

Now that's awesome

I meet Everton Walls at a High School Graduation in Dallas for Plano High, he was so nice and patient and posed for photographs. I’ve meet other professional athletes that were in their own world, not Everton Walls, he was kind and down to earth.

This was awesome

He had receiver hands for sure - … one of my favorite Cowboy of all time. This is a great video! Glad he got that ring!

Wow!! What a great story!

Everson Walls was the man on defense who could make it happen like offense. Exciting player to watch. Bill Parcels should've started Phil Simms that game.

Mr. Walls I remember when you were with Dallas because I am a life long Eagle fan. A lifelong Eagle fan who never associated your name with loser. You accomplished things that many only dream about and I'm glad you never gave up.

As an undrafted rookie he had 11 INTs in the regular season….in that NFC Championship Game…he had 11 tackles…2 INTs….and recovered a fumble

Great story. Great guy.

He's truly a HOFer to me for what he did on the field but even more importantly, for what he did off the field, w/ the sacrifice he made for his friend and teammate, Ron Springs(RIP).

Sports Illustrated put my comment about the DH in The Super Catch edition. As a die hard Dallas Cowboys fan, I couldn’t think of a worse edition for it to appear. Everson Walls has always been one of my favorite Cowboys. Honestly, I’d forgotten he was with the Giants.

WOW! What. A. Story.

Thank you Everson! Giants fans love you. We wish you were with the Giants from the beginning. Bravo indeed!

How can you tell the story of football without talking about this dude? That’s why he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame!

lifelong cowboys fan, never blamed him for the catch. a million to one shot, montana being chased out of pocket, throwning off his back foot, 99 times that goes into the endzone and clark makes an incredible leaping catch that possibly only he could have made back then with his leaping ability. no blame to anyone. just an amazing play. walls was a true ball hawk with an amzing ability to know where the ball was going and get to it and great anticipatory skills. i knew this even before belicek said it in this video. only shame is that hes not in the HoF truly one of the great CBs of all time.

In that snap-shot of "The Catch" @4:49, take a look at the jersey number of that 49ers player laying in the background.. What a strange coincidence...

Great story! Great football player!

Interesting that Walls was not drafted, despite being an AFCA Div. I-AA 1st-team All-America cornerback at Grambling; he signed with Dallas as a free agent. NFL teams were largely uninterested in Walls coming out of college, because his 40-yard dash time was relatively slow (4.72 secs.). The story behind that remarkable oversight is that Walls was a college senior in 1980-’81, before the creation of the NFL Combine. (Three camps for drilling and testing NFL prospects started operating in 1982, and merged into the current Combine in 1985.) Back then, NFL talent scouts tested most players on their college campuses, so players were evaluated by different observers under widely differing conditions. (Multiple teams would hire single scouts, to keep down costs, and share the information they gathered on these campus visits.) Walls’s 40-yard dash on that particular occasion was apparently timed accurately, but the scout had marked off the dash course on a slow surface (perhaps a football field with relatively long grass?), and that hurt Walls’s time that was eventually circulated among NFL teams. Fortunately for Walls, Dallas‘s chief talent scout, Gil Brandt, had scouted his college game performances, and watched him in workout drills that were more complicated than the 40-yard dash. Brandt knew that Walls’s sophisticated coverage skills were actually on a high level, and that he was a far hotter prospect than most other NFL teams understood.

Great story, I love NFL films

I remember being very happy for Walls when the Giants won that year. I didn't like the Giants and I wanted Buffalo to win the game but when they didn't I said in my head well good for Everson Walls he finally got his ring.

They estimated the Montana pass was 11'4" in the air when Clark snagged it...who could defend that ?

this video really made gain alot of respect for him, especially cause he's a champion with the giants

I think Dallas fans understand how badly the 49ers needed that play. The Cowboys were the gold standard of the NFC and had beaten the 49ers in two previous NFC championships. After those 2 losses the 49ers fell into disarray while the Cowboys continued their legacy. When Clark made that catch - well - it was like seeing sunlight after a decade of darkness. Walls was a baller. No bad on him. It was just time for the cards to fall differently.

In the 1981 NFC Championship game, not only did Walls have two INT's but he also had a fumble recovery. No way I blame him for that loss. He covered Clark as long as he could. The play seemed to take forever. It was simply a freak play.

At least he got himself a ring when he went to the Giants in 1990 as a safety. It's amazing again how he wasn't in the hall right now.

It's ironic, the play looks similar to the play Landry called at the end of the 1966 Championship game

How is he not in the Hall after leading the league in interceptions 3x with 4 all pros? Teams didn't even throw as often back then.

Im glad he found redemption with the Giants, cuz he got posterized about as badly as you can be.

Everson Walls is my favorite cornerback of all time. Everyone said he couldn't do it and all he did was set records. He led the NFL in interceptions 3 times and led the nation in interceptions with 11 his senior year in college. Not bad for a said to be slow undrafted free agent out of Grambling. Also I think he was a MVP snubb in the pro bowl one year where he had 2 interceptions of course and a blocked field goal. I believe the MVP went to John Jefferson that year. No knock on Jefferson he was a hell of a receiver.

Should be in the HOF excellent player. One of the best DBs in the 80s. Won a SB in the 90s with the damn Giants. 3x pro bowl 1 time SB champ, 1x all pro

Love how Dwight Clark sent a jersey to him saying "sorry, just doing my job." Class act by Walls for taking a joke and him admitting that he didn't cover Dwight when it counted.