Walter Payton

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.

Reader's Guide

Payton's year of birth is disputed; most sources at the time of his death stated he was born in 1954, but other sources have stated he was born in 1953. He acquired the nickname "Sweetness" in college; the nickname's origin is ambiguous: it is variously said to have stemmed from his personality, from his athletic grace, or as an ironic description of his aggressive playing style.

Did You Know?

• Payton scored in every game during his junior and senior years of high school.
• He set a school record with 279 rushing yards in a single game during his college career.
• Payton rushed for a then-record 275 yards in a 1977 game against the Minnesota Vikings while suffering with a 101-degree fever.
• He was named Black College Player of the Year in both 1973 and 1974.