Walter Payton Legacy

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Lore & Background

Payton began his football career in Mississippi and went on to have an outstanding college football career at Jackson State University playing for the Tigers, where he was named Little All-American twice. He started his professional career with the Chicago Bears in 1975, who selected him with the 1975 draft's fourth overall pick. Payton proceeded to win the 1977 AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award and won Super Bowl XX with the 1985 Chicago Bears. He retired from football at the end of the 1987 season having rushed for at least 1,200 yards in 10 of his 13 seasons in the NFL (with two of those thirteen being lockout-shortened seasons). A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Payton is remembered as a prolific rusher. He has held NFL records for career rushing yards, touchdowns, carries, yards from scrimmage, all-purpose yards, and many other categories. Payton also retired with the most receptions by a non-receiver, and he threw eight career touchdown passes. Payton was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame that same year, and to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1994 and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019. After struggling with the rare liver disease primary sclerosing cholangitis for several months, Payton died on November 1, 1999, from cholangiocarcinoma at the age of 46. His legacy includes being the eponym of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and the Walter Payton Award, as well as a heightened awareness of the need for organ donations.

In Their Own Story

On November 20, 1977, Payton delivered a defining performance against the Minnesota Vikings while suffering from a 101-degree fever and intense flu. He rushed for a then-record 275 yards on 20 carries, breaking O.J. Simpson's previous record of 273 yards. His longest run was 58 yards, and he caught one pass for 6 yards. This record stood for 23 years until Corey Dillon broke it in 2000. Later, on October 7, 1984, against the New Orleans Saints, Payton surpassed Jim Brown's career rushing record of 12,312 yards. The following year, he rushed for over 1,500 yards as part of a Bears team that finished 15–1 and won Super Bowl XX with a 46–10 victory over the New England Patriots. Although Payton did not score in the postseason, quarterback Jim McMahon noted that Payton was targeted by two or three defenders on every play, creating space for others to shine.

Reader's Guide

Payton's year of birth is disputed; most sources at the time of his death stated he was born in 1954. However, other sources have stated he was born in 1953. The source article gives his date of birth as July 25, 1953.

Did You Know?

• Payton acquired the nickname "Sweetness" in college; its origin is ambiguous, variously said to stem from his personality, his athletic grace, or as an ironic description of his aggressive playing style.
• In his record-setting 1977 game against the Minnesota Vikings, Payton rushed for 275 yards while suffering with a 101-degree fever and intense flu.
• Payton played drums in the marching band and jazz-rock groups during high school.