For Black men in America, the statistics on prostate cancer are more than just numbers—they represent a critical health crisis. One in six Black men is expected to face a diagnosis in his lifetime. Former Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker knows that awareness is the best defense. As a Legends Coordinator and community advocate, Walker is taking this mission to the biggest stage in sports. His goal is simple: to reach men who are uncomfortable having “the talk” and show them that a simple blood test is all it takes to change the scoreboard for their health.
Walker is currently starring in Novartis’ new “Relax, It’s a Blood Test” campaign to raise awareness that life-saving prostate cancer screening can begin with a simple blood draw.
Joining a campaign that will launch during Super Bowl LX—featuring an ad with NFL greats like Rob Gronkowski, Greg Olsen, Tony Gonzalez, and Vernon Davis—was a no-brainer for Walker. The cause is personal for him, as he lost his father-in-law to the disease.
“If I can spread a message that can possibly save a male’s life… that’s what I’m going to do,” Walker tells BlackDoctor.
The long-standing stigma is that men must undergo a rectal exam to be screened for prostate cancer, but this campaign aims to show men that there is a much simpler entry point to preventative care.
“In some cases, you may have to have a rectal exam, but we’re telling you that it’s easy. Relax,” Walker adds. “It’s just a blood test. All you’ve gotta do is get that poke, and then we can screen you for cancer and find out what’s going on.”
Getting that information, Walker notes, allows you to pass it down to your physician so you can take the appropriate steps.
“In this new era, health is big. Especially men—now we are indeed conscious of it and understand that we have to take care of ourselves, being healthy, knowing our body, and getting the screenings that we need to be able to make sure that we are healthy,” Walker says.
Walker has noticed a significant shift in how these important conversations are handled since he first joined the league.
“I can remember when I first got in…these are things we didn’t talk about,” he shares. “These are things that weren’t mentioned. But now, in this new age, we talk about our health, we talk about getting screenings, and what we can do to better ourselves as men. So, you know, I’m just excited that this is a new era where we talk about these things and try to better ourselves.”
Now retired, Walker remains involved with football as a featured analyst on the podcast, The Locker Room, where he appears alongside Will Compton and Taylor Lewan.
“We do daily analysis of the NFL, talk about the overs and unders—betting and things like that—just staying in the realm of the football world,” Walker says.
When asked about his Super Bowl LX predictions, he weighed in on the highly anticipated rematch between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.
“I want to see it go another way this year. I do love Mike Vrabel… he’s a great coach, and he turned that organization around very fast. But Seattle right now has the power. They’re very explosive. They make plays when they need to make plays, and they’re playing on a high note right now. My prediction would probably be 24-21,” he says.
In his role as a Legends Coordinator, Walker also helps former players transition out of the NFL. This includes assistance with retirement, finding new careers, or accessing health resources.
“I’m still in football as much as possible, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to do what I do,” he says.
Walker’s final message? Screening saves lives.
“Get it done. If you’re 40 and up, please go get screened. Prostate cancer affects one out of eight males and one out of six Black males. Please get screened, have these conversations, and talk about it. We can only spread awareness if we speak up,” he concludes.
For more information, visit RelaxItsABloodTest.com.
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