Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Rasheed Walker was arrested Friday at LaGuardia Airport after attempting to check a bag containing a handgun and ammunition, according to reports.
Walker, 25, reportedly informed a Delta Airlines employee that his checked bag included a locked box with a firearm inside. Port Authority police responded and discovered a 9mm Glock and 36 rounds of ammunition in the box. He was subsequently taken into custody and charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, as well as criminal possession of a firearm.
Walker’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, stated that his client voluntarily disclosed the firearm to airline personnel and believed he was following proper procedures due to his license and the weapon being secured. “He mistakenly thought because he had a licensed firearm and it was locked in a box that he was able to travel with it,” Aidala said. “We are confident that the case will be dismissed.”
The 6-foot-6, 324-pound lineman has been a key contributor for the Packers since being drafted in the seventh round (249th overall) in 2022. A former standout at Penn State, Walker earned All-Big Ten honors in both 2020 and 2021 before making the leap to the NFL. Since joining Green Bay, he’s appeared in 52 games and started 48 - a testament to the trust the coaching staff has placed in him and the consistency he’s brought to the offensive front.
This off-field situation is a legal matter now, but on the field, Walker has quietly carved out a significant role on one of the league’s most promising young offensive lines. His development from a late-round pick into a reliable starter has been one of the more under-the-radar success stories in Green Bay. How this incident affects his availability moving forward remains to be seen, but the Packers - and Walker - will be hoping for a swift resolution.