“I think Quay [Walker] is playing at an elite level right now.”

Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley didn’t shy away from praising his fourth-year linebacker. He even thanked the media members for asking about him because of how well he’s played this season. “His communication, the way he’s calling things out, the way he’s studying the game, the way he’s practicing, his leadership on our team, to me, is at a whole different level on the field and off the field…I think he’s taken a step, and I believe there’s more room. I love being around the guy right now, and I give him a ton of credit. He’s doing an awesome job.”

Walker has been a key piece in the defense’s success. PFF has Walker ranked 20th in snaps amongst NFL linebackers. He still has recorded 64 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 8 pressures, 22 stops, and 4 pass deflections. Additionally, he is also in charge of calling the defense on the field. He’s helped the Packers’ defense rank sixth in yards per game (289.4), third in rushing yards per game (78.9), and tenth in points allowed per game (21.4).

On the Field Growth

Believe it or not, Green Bay’s defense would be in much worse shape without Quay Walker on the field. He is one of the most respected members of the locker room, and his coaches trust him 100%. As far back as last season, Matt LaFleur shared, “He’s a resilient dude and I’ve got a lot of confidence in him. I don’t think there’s anything in this game he cannot accomplish. I think he’s super-talented.”

Statistically, Walker might not be at the top of the leaderboards, but his contributions go far beyond the box score. He handles so much on the field that the players around him can play freely. “I think he’s one of the best linebackers in the league,” safety Xavier McKinney said earlier this offseason. “There are a lot of things he can do that a lot of linebackers cannot do. I think he’s going to continue to keep getting better…In the future, he’s going to be the best linebacker in the league. You can write that down.”

One aspect that sets Walker apart from other linebackers in the league is his versatility. Jeff Hafley is able to use him in a variety of ways. For starters, Walker has really improved when rushing the passer this season. Hafley can line him up traditionally in a base set, on the edge, or even have him line up in the slot to cover linebackers or tight ends. Between him and Edgerrin Cooper, Hafley’s options are limitless.

“I thought he was really impactful yesterday, especially when [Hafley] was sending him on some of those blitzes; their backs were having a hard time picking him up,” LaFleur said a couple of weeks back. “To watch his growth from where he was when we first got him to where he is now has been an awesome process. Not only as a player, but as a guy in that locker room, he’s a real leader for us. Not only by example, but what he says. He’s really taken charge and taken hold of the defense.”

Off the Field Maturation

There were high hopes for Quay Walker when the Packers drafted him in the first round back in 2022. He was a physically-gifted, but raw linebacker with a temper. His rookie season was a bit shaky. PFF gave him an overall grade of 52.0 and a run defense grade of 35.1. He was also ejected – twice. The first ejection happened in Buffalo when Walker showed a member of the Bill’s practice squad. The second ejection came against the Lions after he shoved one of their athletic trainers.

Now it’s time to fast forward to 2025. Walker isn’t the same 22-year-old hothead that the Packers drafted. He’s done a lot of work on himself, and it’s shown. This past weekend against Pittsburgh, Walker found himself in the middle of a chippy game. There was a point where Steelers’ wide receiver DK Metcalf even poked his fingers through Walker’s facemask in what appeared to be an attempt to poke him in the eye. What did Walker do? Absolutely nothing. Metcalf got called for a penalty, and what was going to be a 3rd-and-2 opportunity for the Steelers turned into a 3rd-and-17.

“That’s not easy to not respond, but that’s the epitome of being team first,” LaFleur said. “That was a critical penalty in the game. You’re talking about going from third-and-2 to third-and-17. Now you’re in a (no big plays) defense, and they’ve got to check the ball down, and they’re punting. It was a big-time play. The way I look at it, that was as good as a takeaway.”

Walker’s growth and maturation didn’t happen overnight. At the end of last season, Hafley only wanted Walker to work on one thing during the offseason: himself. “I talked with ‘Haf’ when the season was over and we have our going-away-type meetings, and that was something he told me he wanted me to work on because he knows how hard I am on myself,” Walker shared.

Part of the work on himself has come in the form of meditation, something that former teammate Jaire Alexander got him hooked on. He also spent time talking with Green Bay’s behavioral health clinician to verbalize. “He’s playing at a really high level right now, but the maturity that he’s shown…he represented what we want to be about, just playing between the whistles, playing nasty between the whistles, and then let them do all that extra stuff,” said LaFleur. “And I thought that just was a big-time, a really mature moment for him.”

Trust Was Earned, Not Given

Walker’s teammates have seen his personal gains as well. The Packers voted on team captains before the season began. Xavier McKinney and Rashan Gary were two of the defensive choices. The third? Quay Walker.

“[Walker’s] wearing a ‘C’ on his jersey for a reason,” LaFleur said regarding Walker. “He’s definitely earned it and I think just the growth, you’ve seen it as a player. He’s playing at a really high level right now, but the maturity that he’s shown represented what we want to be about, just playing between the whistles, playing nasty between the whistles, and then let them do all that extra stuff.”

“Just remembering how I felt after that ejection and stuff like that, just done came a long way. It’s just all about putting the team first and not making the selfish decision like that, responding back, so that’s the main thing … I just done matured a whole lot, I’ll say, in that situation, so I just knew automatically how to respond.”

The Best is Yet to Come

Back in May, the Packers decided not to pick-up Walker’s fifth-year option. The reason had more to do with an inflated number for linebackers. General manager Brian Gutekunst has repeatedly shared that the Packers want to keep Walker in Green Bay for “2026 and beyond,” which means they would need to re-sign him. All signs still point to that becoming a reality.

“When he came in Year 1 to where he is now is night and day,” said Rashan Gary.

“A hell of a year,” said Matt LaFleur.

“Elite,” said Jeff Hafley

“Quay’s been really impressive. He’s really confident on the field right now,” said Sean Duggan.

Everyone in the building seems to have the upmost confidence and respect for Quay Walker, and by all accounts, he’s earned it. He continues to be excellent as the defensive signal caller, his play on the field continues to improve, and his maturation off-the-field is second to none. Walker knows he’s not the same person he was as a rookie. He’s much more reflective, self-aware, and team-centered. When asked if Walker would’ve responded the same was 4 years ago, his answer was very straightforward.

“Hell nah.”