John Walton ( American football ) John Booker Walton ( born October 4 , 1947 ) is a former college and professional American football quarterback . Walton played college football at Elizabeth City State University in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association ( CIAA ) for four seasons ( 1965 - 1968 ) . During his senior year ( 1968 ) he completed 114 of 204 passes for 1400 yards and 16 touchdowns and led the Vikings to an 8 - 1 record . Walton was honored for his performance by being named to the All - CIAA football team . Walton graduated from Elizabeth City State University in 1969 with a Bachelors degree in physical education . Professional football career . National Football League ( 1969 , 1970 , 1971 ) . Walton was not drafted coming out of college but was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League in March 1969 . He participated in several preseason games with the Rams in 1969 - 1972 but was never able to make the active roster during the season and spent most of his time on the taxi squad ( practice team ) . Continental Football League ( 1969 ) . In 1969 , after not making the Los Angeles Rams team , Walton played for the Indianapolis Capitols of the Continental Football League . His first pro football start came on Sept 2 , 1969 when he led the Capitals to a 28 - 27 victory over the Norfolk Neptunes . Walton led the Capitals to the 1969 Continental Football League championship game ( December 13 , 1969 ) where he completed 14 of 30 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns as Indianapolis defeated the San Antonio Toros in overtime 44 - 38 to become the 1969 Continental Football League champions . Walton was named to the ALL - CFL team and the MVP of the Capitals team . During the season Walton completed 109 of 234 passes for 1 , 713 yards and 17 touchdowns . World Football League ( 1974 , 1975 ) . In 1974 he served as a backup quarterback for the Chicago Fire of the World Football League . In 1975 he was the starting quarterback for the San Antonio Wings of the World Football League where he led the league in passing yards and touchdowns . Walton was named to the WFL All - Pro team . The World Football League officially suspended operations on October 22 , 1975 . National Football League ( 1976 - 1979 ) . Based on his success in the World Football League , Walton was recruited by new Philadelphia Eagles head coach Dick Vermeil to try out for the Eagles . Coincidentally , Vermeil was a coach for the Los Angeles Rams when Walton had first attempted to make the NFL . Walton was signed to a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles and from 1976 - 1979 he would serve as a backup quarterback for the Eagles playing in fifteen games over four seasons before leaving the NFL , at the age of 32 , following the conclusion of the 1979 season . United States Football League ( 1983 , 1984 ) . In 1983 , Walton was convinced by Dick Coury , the head coach of the Boston Breakers of the newly formed United States Football League , to give quarterbacking one more chance . Coury was familiar with Walton and his talent as Coury had been a coach on the Philadelphia Eagles staff during Walton ' s time there . Despite being 35 years old , and not having played a down of pro football since 1979 , Walton agreed to join the USFL and become the starting quarterback for the 1983 Boston Breakers and the 1984 New Orleans Breakers ( after the team moved to New Orleans following the 1983 season ) . Walton was one of the top passers in the USFL finishing second in the league in 1983 with 3 , 772 yards passing and third in the league with 20 touchdowns while leading the Breakers to an 11 - 7 - 0 record and a second place finish in the USFL ' s Atlantic Division . In 1984 he finished fifth in the league in passing yards with 3 , 554 . Walton owns the USFL record for most passing attempts in a season ( 589 ) which was set during the 1983 season . Coaching Career . After leaving the NFL , Walton become head football coach at his Alma mater , Elizabeth City State University , on January 15 , 1980 . He was the head coach from 1980 - 82 going 7 - 2 - 1 ( 5 - 2 in the CIAA ) in 1980 , 8 - 3 ( 6 - 1 in the CIAA ) in 1981 and 5 - 5 ( 3 - 4 in the CIAA ) and compiling a 20 - 10 - 1 overall record . He left ECSU to return to pro football as the quarterback of the Boston / New Orleans Breakers . In 1991 Walton was the Offensive Coordinator for the Raleigh - Durham Skyhawks of the World League of American Football ( WLAF ) under head coach Roman Gabriel who played with Walton on the Rams and Eagles teams in the NFL and was his Offensive Coordinator ( 1985 ) for the Portland Breakers . Post - football career . Following his retirement from pro football , he returned to Elizabeth City , where he has served as a teacher and a member of the city council . ECSU Hall of Fame . Walton was elected to the Elizabeth City State University Hall of Fame on October 25 , 1985 . Career Stats . World Football League ( WFL )