Waters was regarded as one of the NFL's most aggressive players, serving as an integral part of one of the league's top defenses.

[4] In 1984, Waters was signed as an undrafted free agent by Philadelphia Eagles head coach Marion Campbell.

He scored a touchdown in 1989 when he took a lateral from William Frizzell after Reggie White caused a fumble by New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms.

[5] The following year under head coach Jim Leavitt, Waters took the same position on the upstart South Florida football program.

[7] In 2000, Waters left South Florida to join the St. Louis Rams of the NFL as a coaching intern for training camp.

[13] Waters described his disappointment in not getting a full-time NFL coaching job to The Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Phil Sheridan.

Shortly after Waters' death, former Harvard defensive tackle and WWE wrestler Dr. Christopher Nowinski, whose wrestling career was ended by post-concussion syndrome and has since written a book about the dangers of concussions in contact sports, approached Waters' family and asked permission to have his brain tissue examined.

After receiving permission, Nowinski had samples of Waters' brain tissue sent to neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu at the University of Pittsburgh.