Walter Payton

For more information on Walter Jerry Payton, visit Britannica.com.

American football legend, Walter Payton (1954-1999), earned a place in history with his career rushing record of 16,726 yards - an all-time high in the National Football League. The Hall-of-Fame running back played his entire 13-year career with the Chicago Bears. He was a tough competitor who refused to "go down" easily. Where other players would run for the sidelines to avoid a crushing tackle, Payton faced defensive blockers squarely head-on; he made them "earn" the down for a tackle.

Walter Jerry Payton was born in Columbia, Mississippi on July 25, 1954. He was one of three siblings - two boys and one girl - the children of Peter and Alyne Payton. In his younger years, Payton was never a competitive athlete. He stood supportively in the shadow of his older brother, Eddie, and refused to steal the limelight. Instead, Payton took an interest in music and learned to play the drums. He joined the school band in high school, and he sang and played with various rhythm and blues groups in his spare time. During his freshman year of high school he participated in only one sport, track and field. He ventured into football the following year, at the request of the sophomore coach. Payton immediately showed promise when he gained 65 yards on his first ball carry and racked at least one touchdown in every game. By his senior year of high school, Payton's accomplishments were impressive. He continued to play with the school band, stretched his long jump record to 22-feet-11-and-1/4-inches, lettered in basketball, and earned a place on the allstate football team. He averaged 18 points per game on the gridiron, and he was an excellent student. Major universities courted him, but Payton, who was raised in a segregated culture, enrolled at Jackson State University, a small school with a predominantly African American student body.

During his junior year at Jackson, Payton ranked among the top-scoring collegiate football players nationwide, with a total of 160 points for the season. By the end of his senior year he amassed a career total of 464 points - a National College Athletic Association (NCAA) record at that time. Payton graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications at the age of 20, after only three-and-one-half years of school. He enrolled in graduate level courses to prepare for a career in education for the deaf. Payton was a serious student, who belied the prevailing stereotype that athletes were of low intelligence.

Signed with the Chicago Bears

In 1975, when the National Football League (NFL) drafted new recruits from among the graduating college seniors, the Chicago Bears selected Payton as their first choice. He was the fourth player to be selected in the nationwide draft. The Bears offered Payton a bonus of $126,000 as an incentive to join their team. It was the highest signing bonus ever offered to a college player at that time. His performance on the field justified the bonus. After his rookie year Payton led the NFL in kickoff returns. By the end of his football career, in 1987, he held the league record for career rushing yardage, including 110 touchdowns.

In 1977, Payton led the NFL with the most yards rushed in a single game, with 275 yards against the Minnesota Vikings. For that single performance he received the Most Valuable Player award (MVP) for the season. At the age of 23, he was the youngest player ever to receive the award. That season was Payton's personal best, as he averaged a gain of 5.5 yards per ball carry (the highest of his career), and rushed for 1,852 yards, including 14 touchdowns. The Bears signed Payton to a three-year contract in 1978, with annual salaries approaching one-half million dollars. In 1983, he signed the highest contract in NFL history, with a $240,000 lifetime annuity.

Payton proved worthy of the large salary. In 13 years as a player, he missed only one game and later regretted the failing. Payton's day of true glory came on October 7, 1984 on a six-yard play against the New Orleans Saints. The historic run pushed Payton's career rushing yards to a NFL record, surpassing legendary Jim Brown's record of 12,312 career yards. Since that day other players rushed over 13,000 yards, but none bested Payton's career total of 16,726 yards. That same year Chicago played in the conference championship game, an event that had eluded the team repeatedly. The opinion was widely held that Payton was the definitive factor in bringing the Chicago football team to such a high level of achievement. That view was confirmed at the end of the 1985 season when the Bears achieved a memorable win in Super Bowl XX, scoring their first NFL championship since 1963.

Payton was 33 years old when he retired from active play in 1987, having rushed on 77 occasions for over 100 game yards. In ten seasons he rushed for over 1,000 yards, and he ran the ball well over 3,000 times. In 13 years of play he made nine appearances in the Pro Bowl. He shed tears at the end, and it became evident why Payton earned the nickname of "Sweetness" as a college player, and why the label stuck with him throughout his life. Payton's great stamina and fluid motion on the playing field contributed to his legendary reputation. His private training regimen included an exhausting daily run of 20 laps, up and down a steep hill, for overall conditioning and to build endurance. Opposing players respected Payton for facing tacklers head-on. At five-feet-ten-and-one-half inches and 204 pounds, he was never the largest, nor the fastest, but few commanded more respect.

Life After Football

Football to Payton was a job that he did for a time. It was not his chosen career. The essence of his life's work as a businessman and entrepreneur took shape after he retired. He founded his own company, Walter Payton Incorporated, in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and later moved the business to Schaumburg. Payton Incorporated dealt in various businesses including real estate, travel, and nursing homes. The company was part owner in 20 restaurants and clubs worldwide. Payton managed his businesses personally; he took a hands-on approach to every transaction. He sold his time as both a spokesperson and as a motivational speaker, and lent his endorsement to other companies including Realta Men's Wear, Bryan Foods, Entertainment One, and Chili's Restaurants. He indulged his interest in auto racing, learned to drive the stock cars himself, and invested as co-owner with speedway developer, Dale Coyne, in a car racing business called Payton-Coyne Racing Incorporated. The two owned a fleet of Indy-CART-sanctioned race cars.

In 1988, Payton joined the board of directors of the Chicago Bears. It was uncommon for the board to invite a former player into their ranks; he was only the second player to be so honored. The late Michael McCaskey, then owner of the Bears, quelled media speculation with an announcement that Payton's election to the board was based on "the qualities that he would bring. He is a very smart and very able man, and he loves football. We have sought Walter's advice and counsel." McCaskey was quoted in Chicago, by Richard Lalich. In the early 1990s, Payton was also appointed to the NFL commissioner's board. In 1993, he purchased a 15 percent interest with a group of investors, in a bid to bring an NFL expansion team to the St. Louis, Missouri area.

Payton's first love was for his family. He and his wife, Connie, were married on July 7, 1976 and had two children: Jarrett, born in the early 1980s, and Brittney, born some five years later. He estimated that 75 percent of his time was spent in matters relating to his children. Undoubtedly one of the finest moments of Payton's life occurred in 1998 when he announced that his son would attend the University of Miami and play college football as a running back. Payton's second priority, which often took precedence over business, was the Hoffman Estates High School basketball team, where he volunteered as an assistant coach. His business colleagues shook their heads in disbelief when he cancelled meetings and consultations to be with the team at a game or a practice. According to Payton he loved basketball, whereas football was a means of employment. He was devoted to other children's programs as well and, in 1988, founded the Walter Payton Foundation for needy children. He also co-founded and staffed the Wood and Strings Puppet Theater at Skyway Elementary School.

Payton was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986. It came as no surprise that he was selected for induction to the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on July 31, 1993. At the ceremony Jarrett Payton, then 12 years old, presented the Hall of Fame induction award to his father with the words, "'Not only is my dad an exceptional athlete, he's my biggest role model and best friend."

An Untimely Death

In October 1998, Payton consulted a physician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He had been experiencing severe indigestion and weight loss. The doctors soon discovered the source of his discomfort. On February 2, 1999, Payton announced that he had primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a progressive disease of the liver. Without a liver transplant, Payton's condition was terminal. A subsequent diagnosis of bile duct cancer precluded the transplant. In the spring of 1999 he threw out the first baseball of the season at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs in what was effectively his last public appearance.

Payton died on November 1, 1999 in Barrington, Illinois at the age of 45. His wife, children, and mother survived him. Many dignitaries including the U.S. secretary of state, the governor of Illinois, and the commissioner of the NFL attended Payton's funeral at Life Changers Church in Barrington Hills, Illinois. A public memorial at Chicago's Soldier Field was televised nationally on November 6.

In the days after Payton's death, many prominent personalities came forward to eulogize "Sweetness." In a widely quoted remark, former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka called Payton, ''The very best football player I've ever seen, period, at any position," according to the New York Times and other sources. The Times went on to quote NFL commissioner, Paul Tagliabue, who labeled Payton, "[O]ne of the greatest players in the history of the sport." Virginia Halas McCaskey, owner of the Chicago Bears, made an emotional statement in mourning the loss. Payton's colleague, Tim Brown, was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle by Nancy Gay and David Bush, "He proved that you didn't have to be 6-4 and 230 pounds to be a physical football player. But when you needed that one yard he always could get it for you." President Bill Clinton made a public statement of sorrow; he praised Payton's ability to endure illness with, "the same grit and determination that he showed every week on the football field."

Payton's autobiography, Sweetness, was published in 1978. He issued a sound recording, Winning in Life, in 1986. A second memoir, Never Die Easy, remained un-completed at the time of Payton's death.

Further Reading

Chicago, July 1993.

Los Angeles Times, November 2, 1999.

New York Times, November 2, 1999.

San Francisco Chronicle, November 2, 1999.

Southern Living, May 1993.

Sports Illustrated, November 8, 1999.

football player; business owner; president (organization)

Personal Information

Born Walter Jerry Payton on July 25, 1954, in Columbia, MS; died on November 1, 1999, in South Barrington, IL; son of Peter (a factory worker) and Alyne Payton; married Connie Norwood on July 7, 1976 (filed for divorce, 1994); children: Jarrett, Brittany; Religion: Baptist.
Education: Jackson State College (later Jackson State University), Jackson, MS, B.A., 1975.
Religion: Baptist.
Memberships: Chicago Bears, board of directors; Walter Payton Foundation.

Career

Football halfback, punter, and placekicker, Jackson State College, 1971-74; halfback, Chicago Bears, 1975-87; part-owner, Payton-Coyne Racing Team; Walter Payton's Roundhouse, owner, 1996-99; Walter Payton Inc., owner and president, 1979-99.

Life's Work

One of the strongest and most talented men in football, Walter Payton could bench-press 390 pounds, leg-press more than 700 pounds, throw a football 60 yards, punt it 70 yards, kick 45-yard field goals, and walk the width of the field on his hands. It was this phenomenal combination of power and control that allowed Payton to play in every game except one during his 13 years of National Football League (NFL) competition.

Retiring after the 1987 season, Payton left behind 26 Chicago Bears team records and several NFL records. Ten years later, many of his records still stood, including most yards rushing in a career, most combined yards (rushing and receiving) in a career, most career touchdowns rushing, most 1,000-yard rushing seasons, most 100-yard rushing games in career, and most rushes in career. More than these individual achievements, however, his all-around team play--pass catching, blocking, personality, selflessness, and leadership--inspired his former coach Mike Ditka to call him, as quoted by Koslow, "the very best football player I've ever seen, period--at any position."

Walter Jerry Payton was born on July 25, 1954, in Columbia, Mississippi, "a kid's paradise" in his own words. Woods extended from one side of his house to the Pearl River. Several factories were on the other side. Both settings provided numerous opportunities for mischief with his older brother and sister, Eddie and Pamela. Early on, Payton used his natural running ability to avoid being caught by security guards while playing hide and seek at the nearby factories.

Hyperactive, prankish, and strong-willed, young Walter was often punished by his Baptist parents, Peter and Alyne. Payton later assessed his parents as firm but fair disciplinarians who instilled strong religious faith in their children. "My parents spent a lot of time with us and made us feel loved and wanted. I didn't care much about what went on around me, as long as I was in solid at home," he later recalled to Koslow.

Peter Payton worked at a factory that manufactured packs and parachutes for the U.S. government. By 1962, he had saved enough money to move his family to a new home with separate rooms for each child. It was located just one block from John J. Jefferson High School, the segregated school that all African American children attended from grades one through 12. Both parents instilled in their children an ideal of excellence, "never to settle for second best," as Payton later recalled.

Competed in High School

Taking his parents' principles to heart, Payton became a better-than-average student, though music took precedence over studies or sports. He was constantly drumming or tapping out a beat on anything in reach. Often he would dance or sing instead of doing his household chores, much to the dismay of his mother and siblings. "When you've got an angry brother and sister chasing you with a broom and a wet towel, well, you learn some good moves," he told a Football Hall of Fame audience at his 1993 induction.

In the ninth grade, Payton joined the track team as a long jumper and played drums in the school band. He consciously avoided the football team where his brother, Eddie, was the star running back. Payton later claimed he did not want his mother having to worry about both of her sons being hurt. After Eddie Payton graduated, Jefferson High School's football coach asked Payton to try out for the team. Payton, then a sophomore, agreed only after being allowed to stay in the band as well. On his first high-school carry, he ran 65 yards for a touchdown. It was just a taste of things to come.

Jefferson merged with all-white Columbia High School in 1969, and Payton became the undisputed star of the newly integrated football team. Tommy Davis, Columbia's football coach, claimed that he could always count on Payton when the team needed to score. Payton's statistics proved that this was no exaggeration: he scored in every game during his junior and senior years. He was named to the all-conference team three years in a row. Payton also led the Little Dixie Conference in scoring during his senior year and made the all-state team. In addition to excelling at football, Payton averaged 18 points a game for Columbia's basketball team, leaped three-quarters of an inch short of 23 feet in the long jump, played some baseball, and continued to play drums in the school band.

Upon graduating, Payton followed his brother to nearby Jackson State College, soon starting alongside him in the team's backfield. Eddie Payton graduated after Payton's first year at college, however, and joined the NFL, allowing the younger Payton to become Jackson State's lone star. Payton was the team's halfback, punter, and place kicker, and he even passed on occasional option plays. Playing against other predominantly black schools, he ended his sophomore season as the nation's second leading scorer including the highest single-game total (46 points) in college history. The following year, 1973, he ran for 1,139 yards, led the country in scoring with 160 points, was voted the most valuable player in the conference, and was named to the Black All-America team.

Determined to become even better, Payton embarked on a new training program with his brother during the summer of 1973. The two Paytons sprinted up and down the sandbanks and steep levees alongside the Pearl River during the hottest part of the day. These workouts did more than just build up leg strength and endurance; the constantly shifting sand helped develop balance and the ability to better make a cut or abruptly change direction. Throughout the rest of his career, Payton would conduct similar workouts in comparable settings.

This grueling conditioning led to a successful senior year. Payton capped his college career by becoming the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) all-time leading scorer with 464 points. He was chosen to the Black All-America team again, made the NCAA Division II All-America team, and was named to the College All-Star team. About the only time he finished in second place was during a televised Soul Train dance contest. "He still swears that if he'd had a girl who could dance better, he could have won that contest," his coach Bob Hill told Esquire years later. Academically, Payton was an all-star as well, graduating in three-and-a-half years with his bachelor's degree in special education and beginning work on a master's degree. He studied hard, he later wrote in his autobiography Sweetness, "to help dispel the myth that athletes in general and black athletes in particular don't have to work to get their diplomas and that they don't learn anything anyway."

Payton also picked up the nickname "Sweetness" during his college years; it would stick with him throughout his career. Some claimed it was because of his sweet moves on the football field. Others attributed it to his sincerity, humble disposition, soft high-pitched voice, and concern for others. Raised a devout Baptist, he always led the team in its pre-game prayer.

The Chicago Bears chose Payton in the first round of the 1975 NFL draft, making him the fourth player picked overall. He demanded a signing bonus larger than that received four years earlier by Archie Manning, a quarterback from the University of Mississippi, a school formerly closed to African Americans. The Bears offered him $126,000, the highest amount ever paid to anyone from Mississippi.

The Bears were one of the NFL's more storied teams, counting many legendary names among their former players--Red Grange, Bronko Nagurski, Sid Luckman, Gale Sayers, and Dick Butkus. But these stars and those glory days were long gone--the franchise had not had a winning season since 1967. Payton's first season, 1975, was no exception. The team lost six of its first seven games. Payton was slowed by an ankle injury, missed the only game in his NFL career, and played sporadically in others. After healing, though, he gave the Chicago fans an inkling of his talent by leading the league in kickoff returns and finishing the season with 679 yards rushing, the most for any Bears runner since 1969.

The following summer, Connie Norwood, his fiancee, graduated from Jackson State. The two were married, and she became a settling influence in his life. That season he became the focal point of the Bears' offense, carrying the ball 311 times, the most in the league, and gaining 1,390 yards. An injury in the season's final game cost him a chance at the league rushing title, though he led the National Football Conference (NFC) in yards gained. His performance helped the Bears finish with seven victories and seven losses, their best season in eight years.

Most Valuable Player

At training camp in 1977, reporters noticed a different Payton. No longer open and seemingly carefree, he was silent, moody, and irritable. Once the season started, the reason became clear--he had been preparing himself for one of the greatest individual seasons in NFL history. Payton gained 160 yards in the season opener. The first 200-yard game in his career came in the seventh week. He ran for 275 yards in the tenth game, which broke O. J. Simpson's single-game rushing record. Many speculated he would break Simpson's season rushing record of 2,003 yards as well. He came close, but a freezing rain during the final game turned the field to ice, made footing a nightmare, and limited him to 47 yards.

Payton ended the 1977 season with 1,852 yards rushing, leading the NFL in yards gained and carries. The Bears finished 9-5 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. To nobody's surprise, Payton was voted the league's Most Valuable Player. At 23-years old, he was the youngest player to win the honor. Further accolades came from United Press International (UPI), which designated him its Athlete of the Year.

Fans from across the nation began to recognize Payton by his unique stutter step, running on his toes with short, stiff-legged strides. Although he could run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, he was never a real breakaway threat, and was often caught from behind by opposing defenders. Compact instead of graceful, he preferred running up the middle or off tackle, surprising would-be tacklers with frequent sudden cutbacks and punishing them with a forearm, shoulder, or helmet. No other halfback combined Payton's speed, shiftiness, and brute power.

"I've never seen anybody who's more reluctant to get out of the way of a hit," his former coach Mike Ditka recalled in Esquire. "He really does look to punish the guy tackling him." No matter how hard he was tackled, Payton always would spring to his feet immediately and return to the huddle. He enjoyed blocking for other running backs or protecting his quarterback against blitzing linebackers seemingly as much as he loved running the ball. "That's what sets him head and shoulders above other running backs," Gale Sayers--also a legendary Bears running back--commented in Esquire, "the maximum effort he puts into the other phases of the game." After scoring a touchdown, Payton would hand the football to one of the Bears offensive linemen who blocked for him, explaining in Koslow's biography, Walter Payton, that "they're the ones who do all the work."

Became a Superstar

Before the 1978 season began, Payton signed contracts for the next three seasons reflecting his superstar status--$400,000 for 1978, $425,000 for 1979, and $450,000 plus incentive bonuses for 1980. Clearly, the Bears were expecting big things from him and better days for the team. Under new coach Neill Armstrong, the Bears finished with a 7-9 record despite Payton's 1,395 yards, most in the NFC, and 50 pass receptions. Together with fullback Roland Harper's 992 yards, the two runners accounted for 72 percent of the Bears' offense.

The following year, Payton played with a painful pinched nerve in his shoulder but still amassed 1,610 yards, again leading the NFC. The Bears made the playoffs with a 10-6 record, but they were eliminated in the first round. He gained 1,460 yards in 1980 for an unprecedented fifth consecutive NFC rushing title, but the Bears fell to 7-9. The team continued its mediocre play the next year, finishing 6-10, and Payton, injured most of the season with cracked ribs and a sore shoulder, slipped to 1,222 yards, failing to win the NFC rushing title or make the Pro Bowl. Even so, he became the first player in NFL history to run for 1,000 yards six years in a row.

The Bears realized Payton's value, and signed him to a three-year contract worth $2 million. They also hired Mike Ditka as the new head coach. The 1982 season was tarnished by a player strike, however, and the Bears finished 3-6. The next season, with Jim McMahon installed at quarterback, they finished 8-8. Payton ran for 1,421 yards and caught 53 passes for 607 yards, personally accounting for 36 percent of the Bears' total yardage. After the season, Payton had arthroscopic surgery on both knees and renegotiated his contract. He received $240,000 a year for life, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

What Payton really wanted was to play for a Super Bowl champion. The 1984 Bears showed tremendous promise. Their defense was strong and the offensive line was able to open big holes for Payton and the other running backs, while effectively blocking for quarterback McMahon. Although the team finished 10-6, the season was highlighted by Payton breaking Jim Brown's 19-year NFL career rushing record of 12,312 yards on October 7. He finished the season with 1,684 yards and caught 45 passes to set a new Bears career receiving record.

In the divisional playoff game against the Washington Redskins, Payton ran for 104 yards, threw a 19-yard touchdown pass, and blocked with such ferocity that he knocked a defensive back out of the game. The Bears defeated Washington by a score of 23-19, but they were shut out by the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game the following week. Despite his 92 yards rushing and three pass receptions, Payton was despondent, calling it "the hardest thing I ever had to deal with."

Became a Super Bowl Champion

Payton and the rest of his teammates would have their revenge in 1985. Running up a 15-1 record with a devastating defense and a powerful offense, the Bears blasted through the regular season, strutting their superiority with an arrogant attitude and a music video entitled "The Super Bowl Shuffle." Payton enjoyed another excellent season, rushing for 1,551 yards.

Chicago won its two playoff games at home to earn the right to play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. Like most of the Bears' regular season games, the result was never in doubt. Chicago crushed New England by a score of 46-10. Payton had his Super Bowl ring, but he seemed unhappy and moody in the locker room. Reporters speculated that he was upset because he had not scored a touchdown. They underestimated his competitive nature. "It wasn't the touchdown," he told Esquire months later. "The game was dull."

The 1986 Bears showed every sign of repeating as champions. They finished 14-2, while Payton displayed his usual form with 1,333 yards rushing and 37 pass receptions. The team stumbled in the playoffs, however, losing to Washington by a score of 27-13. The next season was marred by another player strike. Although the Bears and Payton played well enough to win 11 of their 15 games, they again lost to Washington in the playoffs. Payton was 33-years old, and the Bears had started to split his playing time with talented newcomer Neal Anderson. After 13 years, Payton decided it was time to retire while still on top of his game. He left behind 26 Chicago Bears team records and several NFL records: most rushes (3,838); most yards rushing (16,726); most combined (running and receiving) yards (21,736); most rushing touchdowns (110); most 1,000-yard seasons (10); and most 100-yard games (77) of any running back in history. Former teammate Dan Hampton accurately summed up Payton's career: "No one on this football team and no one in the NFL is actually in Walter Payton's league."

Following his retirement from the NFL, Payton began racing cars and boats while turning his financial attention full time to Walter Payton Inc., his personal company holding investments in real estate, timber, and restaurants. For many years, he worked to become the first African American to own an NFL franchise. He also devoted a great deal of time to various charities in the Chicago area and was on the Chicago Bears' board of directors. He was particularly involved with the Walter Payton Foundation, a children's charity founded by the Bears. On July 31, 1993, Payton was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. His son, Jarrett, made the presentation, telling the assembled crowd: "Not only is my dad an exceptional athlete ... he's my biggest role model and best friend. We do a lot of things together ... I'm sure my sister will endorse this statement: we have a super dad."

Contracted a Deadly Disease

In February of 1999, Payton called a press conference and tearfully announced that he was suffering from a rare liver disease known as primary sclerosing cholangitis or PSC. The disease causes ducts that remove bile from the liver to become blocked. Bile backs up and permanently damages the liver. Payton told the press that he needed a liver transplant in order to save his life. Following the press conference Mike Singletary, Payton's close friend and former teammate, tried remain positive. "As I look at Walter and the situation, I think this can be one of his finest hours," he told People Weekly. "I think there can be a great example out of this."

However, Payton received another devastating blow in May of 1999 when he learned that he had bile duct cancer. Because of the cancer, he was no longer eligible for a liver transplant. Although his fate was sealed, Payton faced the future with characteristic courage and dignity. On November 1, 1999, he died at his home in South Barrington, Illinois. Upon learning of Payton's death, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue told People Weekly. "The tremendous grace and dignity he displayed in his final months reminded us again why 'Sweetness' was the perfect nickname for Walter Payton." On November 6, 1999, fans, friends, loved ones, and former teammates attended a memorial service for Payton at Chicago's Soldier Field, the same field on which he had played so brilliantly. Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke at the service. As reported by the CNN.com, he told the assembled crowd "This light called Sweetness now belongs to heaven and to the ages."

Awards

Selected Awards: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) scoring leader, 1973; Black All-American Team, 1973-74; NCAA Division II All-America Team, 1974; College All-Star Team, 1974; National Football Conference (NFC) rushing leader, 1976-80; National Football League (NFL) Pro Bowl, 1976-80 and 1983-86; NFL rushing leader and Most Valuable Player, 1977; United Press International (UPI) Athlete of the Year, 1977; Black Athlete of the Year, 1984; Professional Football Hall of Fame, inductee, 1993.

Further Reading

Books

• Koslow, Philip, Walter Payton, Chelsea House, 1995.
• Payton, Walter, with Jenkins, Jerry B., Sweetness, Contemporary Books, 1978.

• Chicago Tribune, September 2, 1979.
• Esquire, October 1986, p. 91-97.
• Jet, September 5, 1994, p. 48.
• New York Times, January 4, 1985, p. 21.
• Newsweek, December 5, 1977, p. 63.
• People Weekly, November 15, 1999, p. 56-58.
• Sport, December 1977 p. 57.
• Sporting News, October 1, 1984, p. 2.
• Sports Illustrated, August 16, 1982, p. 18.

• Additional information for this profile was obtained from CNN.com.

— James J. Podesta and David G. Oblender

Quotes:

"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."

Walter Payton

Position(s) Half back Jersey #(s) 34
Born	July 25, 1954(1954-07-25) Columbia, Mississippi, United States
Died	November 1, 1999 (aged 45) South Barrington, Illinois, United States
Career information
Year(s)	1975–1987
NFL Draft	1975 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4
College	Jackson State
Professional teams
Chicago Bears (1975-1987)
Career stats
Rushing Yards	16,726
Average	4.4
Touchdowns	110
Stats at NFL.com
Career highlights and awards
9× Pro Bowl selection (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986) 6× First-team All-Pro selection (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985) 3× Second-team All-Pro (1976, 1983, 1986) 1977 NFL MVP 1977 PFWA NFL MVP 1977 NEA NFL MVP 1985 UPI NFC Player of the Year 1977 UPI NFC Player of the Year 1978 Pro Bowl MVP Super Bowl XX Champion Chicago Bears #34 retired
Pro Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame

Walter Payton (July 25, 1954 – November 1, 1999) was an American football player who spent his entire professional career with the National Football League's Chicago Bears. Walter Payton was known around the NFL as "Sweetness". He is remembered as one of the most prolific running backs in the history of American football. Payton, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, once held the League’s record for most career rushing yards, touchdowns, carries, and many other categories. He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Hall of Fame NFL player and coach Mike Ditka described Payton as the greatest football player he had ever seen—but even greater as a human being.^[1]

Payton began his football career in Mississippi, and went on to have an outstanding collegiate football career at Jackson State University where he was an All-American. He started his professional career with the Bears in 1975, who selected him as the 1975 Draft’s fourth overall pick. Payton proceeded to win two NFL Player of the Year Awards, and won Super Bowl XX with the 1985 Chicago Bears. After struggling with the rare liver disease primary sclerosing cholangitis for several months, Payton died on November 1, 1999.

Contents 1 Early life 2 College career 3 Professional career 3.1 1975–1982 3.2 1983–1986 3.3 1986−1987 4 Playing style 5 Personal life 6 Illness and death 7 Legacy 8 Career statistics 8.1 Regular season 8.2 Post-season 9 References 10 External links

Early life

Payton was one of three children born to Edward Charles Payton and Alyne Payton in Columbia, Mississippi. His father was a factory worker who had played semi-professional baseball.^[2] Payton was an active member of the Boy Scouts, Little League, and his local church. At Jefferson High School, Payton played drums in the marching band, participated in the track team as a long jumper, and sang in the school choir. Outside of school, he played drums in jazz-rock groups. During his first few years at high school, his older brother Eddie was on the football team, and Payton did not play partly to avoid competing with him. After Eddie graduated, the football coach asked Payton to try out for the team, and he agreed on condition that he be allowed to continue playing in the band.^[3]

Once he began to play football, as a junior, he achieved instant success as a running back.^[3] At 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), he was not especially large, but his speed and strength made him one of the team's featured players. Jefferson High School was integrated with neighboring Columbia High School that year; Payton and his teammates were upset that their head coach had become an assistant, and Payton boycotted some of the spring practices in protest, but returned during the fall season.^[4][5] He then earned state-wide honors as a member of Mississippi's all-state team, leading Columbia to an unexpected 8-2 season.^[5][6]

College career

Although Payton had established himself as one of the state’s top running back prospects, he received no invitations from Southeastern Conference colleges and universities, which were accepting only a few black players at the time.^[7] He decided to pursue his collegiate career at the historically African-American, Jackson State University, where his older brother Eddie had played football (turning down a scholarship offer from the University of Kansas, where fellow Chicago Bears running back legend Gale Sayers had played).^[4][5]

While attending Jackson State, Payton played alongside many future professional football players, including Jerome Barkum, Robert Brazile, and Jackie Slater. As a member of the Jackson State Tigers, Payton rushed for more than 3,500 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Also, he broke the NCAA’s scoring record by rushing for 65 touchdowns during his college career. In 1973 and 1974, Payton was selected for the All-American Team and was named Black College Player of the Year.^[8] Payton graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor's degree in communication.^[4][5]

He acquired the nickname "Sweetness" in college. This name was 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.^[9] In 1996, Payton was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.^[5]

Professional career

1975–1982

On January 28, 1975, the Chicago Bears drafted Payton in the first round, as the fourth overall pick. The Bears had endured several losing seasons after the retirement of the iconic Gale Sayers in 1972. Payton's first game was not particularly successful; he was held to zero net rushing yards on eight attempts. His best performance of the season was the final game against the New Orleans Saints, where he rushed for 134 yards on 20 carries. Payton finished the season with only 679 yards and seven touchdowns.^[4][5][10]

Payton was eager to improve his performance. During the 1976 NFL season, Payton rushed for more than 1,000 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. After the season, he was selected to play in the 1977 Pro Bowl, where he was declared the Pro Bowl MVP. The next year, he rushed for 1,852 yards and scored 16 touchdowns, becoming the league’s leading scorer for the season. He earned numerous awards that season, including the Associated Press and Pro Football Writers of America’s Most Valuable Player awards. His most memorable game of the season was against the Minnesota Vikings on November 20, in which he rushed for a then-record 275 yards on 40 carries while combating the flu. By the end of the decade, Payton had received additional accolades for his exploits as a blocker, receiver, emergency punter, and quarterback.^[4][5][11]

1983–1986

Payton breaks Jim Brown's career rushing record

The Bears struggled to assemble consecutive winning seasons, landing only two playoff berths since his arrival. The lack of success prompted the Bears’ management to replace Neill Armstrong with Mike Ditka for the season that began in the Fall of 1982. Ditka, a Tight end during the 1960s and 1970s who would also join the Pro Football Hall of Fame, led the Bears to a 3-6 (strike-shortened) record in 1982. He led the Bears to an 8-8 finish in 1983 and to a 10-6 finish in 1984. Payton continued his success by rushing for more than 1,400 yards in both seasons. On October 7, 1984, Payton broke Jim Brown's career rushing record.

In 1985, Payton rushed for more than 1,500 yards, while helping the Bears establish the league’s second-best offense. The Bear's 46 defense of that season would go on to become one of the best in NFL history setting a record for points allowed.^[12] Payton performed with his teammates in the widely released 1985 music video The Super Bowl Shuffle. The Bears went on to a 15-1 record that culminated in a 46-10 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. Although Payton's offensive prowess had assisted the Bears throughout the 1985 season, the New England Patriots prevented him from reaching the end zone. According to quarterback Jim McMahon, he was targeted by two or three defensive Patriots during each play.^[13]

In a later interview, Ditka stated that Payton's lack of a touchdown in this game was one of his major regrets.^[4][5][14]

1986−1987

Payton, who was a twelve-year veteran, amassed 1,333 yards in the 1986 NFL season. The Bears won the NFC Central Division, but lost to the Washington Redskins 27-13 in the divisional round. At the end of the 1986 season, he announced that he would retire after completing the 1987 NFL season. During his last season with the Bears, Payton split carries with his successor, Neal Anderson, and rushed for only 533 yards. Payton's career ended with another loss to the Washington Redskins in the divisional round of the playoffs by the score of 21-17 on January 10, 1988. Over his entire career, Payton rushed for 16,726 yards and scored 110 touchdowns. Also, he caught 492 passes for 4,538 yards and 15 touchdowns. Payton set several team records, including most career rushing yards, receptions, and touchdowns. His jersey number was retired by the Bears, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.^[4][5] The only game he missed in his 13-year career came in his rookie season of 1975. His ankle was injured, and an assistant coach held him out of play; the miss rankled Payton for years afterwards.^[3]

Playing style

Payton's motto was Never Die Easy, which is also the title of his posthumously published autobiography. Payton attributed this motto to Bob Hill, his coach at Jackson State. In practice, this meant that Payton refused to deliberately run out-of-bounds, and always delivered some punishment to his tacklers before being forced off the field or forced down.^[7]

One of Payton's signature maneuvers was the "stutter-step," a high-stepping, irregularly paced run. He developed this as a way to distract his pursuers during long runs, saying that it startled them into thinking and gave him some advantage over players who were actually faster runners.^[7] He reinvented the practice of stiff-arming his tacklers, which had gone out of favor among running backs in the 1970s.^[15] At times, he used his high school experience as a long jumper to leap over his opponents, landing on his head in the end zone to gain a touchdown in a game against the Buffalo Bills.^[16] His running gait was somewhat unusual, as his knees were minimally bent, and the motion was largely powered from the hip.^[17] This may have given his knees, a football player's most vulnerable joints, some protection, although he underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees in 1983. He referred to this procedure as an 11,000-yard checkup.^[17]

After scoring a touchdown, Payton declined to celebrate; instead, he would often hand the ball to his teammates. He disapproved of the growing practice of touchdown celebrations; he preferred post-game antics such as rushing into the locker room and locking his fellow teammates out in the cold while taking a long shower.^[7]

Although Payton might have won the respect of his peers and coaches by his running alone, he made 492 receptions over his career and was a consistent threat in the passing game.^[18]

Personal life

Payton married Connie Norwood in 1976. The couple had two children, Jarrett Payton (born 1980)^[19] and Brittney (born 1985)^[20] and resided in South Barrington, Illinois. In 1995, Walter, along with many other investors, sought to bring an NFL expansion team to Saint Louis, Missouri. Although the NFL strongly favored a franchise in St. Louis, their efforts were thwarted because of internal dissension among the investment group members^[1] leading the NFL award franchises to investment groups in Jacksonville, Florida (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Charlotte, North Carolina (Carolina Panthers).^[21]

Payton pursued various business ventures in retirement, including becoming co-owner of Dale Coyne Racing in the CART IndyCar World Series. He also drove in several Trans-Am Series events, including a 1993 race at Road America in which his car overturned and caught fire. He suffered burns but escaped serious injury.^[22]

In 1995, he and his partners, Mark Alberts, Scott and Pam Ascher, bought the first Railroad Roundhouse built in America for $10. Opening in 1996 the 72,000 sq ft property became known as "Walter Payton's Roundhouse," a restaurant, brewery, entertainment complex with banquet and meeting facilities that also hosts a museum. On Oct 22, 1999 the property was selected by the National Historic Trust as one of the nation's finest examples of Historic Preservation. 10 days later the project built as a tribute to Walter it became a memorial Monday, November 1, 1999.

At World Beer Cup in 2000 Payton Pilsner was selected in the world's best Bohemian Styled Pilsner. In 2002 Payton Pilsner Light was selected as the world's finest European Styled Low Alcohol Beer. In 2004 the Bourbaon Barrel Imperial Stout was selected as the world's best Wood Cask Conditioned Beer.^[23] and was also an enthusiastic chess player. He was known for making practical jokes, including untying referees' shoelaces during pileups, setting off firecrackers at unexpected moments, taking calls at the Bears' switchboard, and calling his friends' wives pretending to be their girlfriends.^[24] He appeared on the NBC comedy show Saturday Night Live in 1987 (co-hosting with fellow football player Joe Montana).^[25]

Payton had always been an accomplished dancer. While at Jackson State in 1975, he and a girlfriend entered a couples' dance contest televised on the nationally syndicated music/dance show Soul Train and finished second overall.^[26]

Illness and death

In February 1999, Payton announced that he had a rare autoimmune liver disease known as primary sclerosing cholangitis. The disease probably led to his bile duct cancer.^[27] Payton spent his final months as an advocate for organ transplants, appearing in many commercials to encourage others to donate organs, although by the time his first appeal was recorded, his illness was already too far advanced for transplantation to have been a viable option.^[7] In April, Payton made a final public appearance at a Chicago Cubs game with Mike Ditka, where he threw the game's ceremonial first pitch.^[28][29] Author Don Yaeger worked with him during the last weeks of his life to create his autobiography, Never Die Easy.^[3]

On November 1, 1999, Payton died from the complications that arose from his illness. During the same week, the NFL held special ceremonies in each game to commemorate his career and legacy. In addition, the Chicago Bears wore special #34 patches on their jerseys to honor Payton.^[28] His body was cremated after his death.^[30]

The speakers at Payton's public funeral service, held in Soldier Field, included Jesse Jackson; former National Football League Commissioner Paul Tagliabue; former teammate Dan Hampton; his widow Connie Payton; and his children—Jarrett and Brittney Payton.^[31] Among the 1,000 mourners at the private service were John Madden; Illinois Governor George Ryan; Chicago's mayor Richard M. Daley; former teammates Matt Suhey, Mike Singletary, Roland Harper, and Jim McMahon; the Bears' equipment manager and building superintendent; and many other people representing a wide racial, social, political, and economic spectrum.^[32]

Legacy

Payton's legacy continues through the charitable Walter and Connie Payton Foundation. His own appeals—and after his death, his foundation's—for greater awareness of the need for organ donations are widely credited with bringing national attention to the problem.^[33] After his appeals, donations in Illinois skyrocketed, and the regional organ bank of Illinois was overwhelmed with calls.^[34] In response, the City of Chicago inserted organ donation requests into city-vehicle-registration mailings in early 2000, and by August 2000, 13,000 people had signed on to the program.^[35] The foundation continues to run a program that Payton organized to donate toys to underprivileged children across the Chicago area each Christmas.^[36] The family established the Walter Payton Cancer Fund in 2002.^[37]

Many modern NFL running backs have cited Payton as a source of inspiration. Emmitt Smith tearfully paid homage to Payton after breaking Payton’s rushing record.^[38] LaDainian Tomlinson, who set numerous records during the 2006 NFL season, named Payton as one of his foremost mentors and inspirations.^[39] Ahman Green, a former player for the Bears' rival Green Bay Packers, is said to have idolized Payton, viewing the highlight film "Pure Payton" before each game.^[40] Walter's son, Jarrett Payton, was a running back for the Tennessee Titans, NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals and CFL's Montreal Alouettes. During his tenure at the University of Miami, Jarrett wore a #34 jersey to honor his father's memory.^[36]

The city of Chicago has honored Payton’s memory in several ways. In 1999, the city created a special city sticker that featured Payton. The profits from the sales of these stickers along with the special license plate created by the State of Illinois are given to support organ-donor programs across Illinois.^[41] Also, the city named a high school, Walter Payton College Prep, in his honor. In September 2007, the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center opened the Walter Payton Liver Center.^[42] Chicago Metra commuters have long been witness to a simple "#34 Sweetness," painted on a bridge piling of the Air Line on the south end of the Chicago Union Station yards.

His Walter Payton's Roundhouse continues to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the Aurora, Illinois site. There are two athletic awards named after Payton. The NCAA gives the "Walter Payton Award" to the best offensive player from a Division I FCS (still often known by its former designation of Division I-AA) football team. The NFL hands out the "Walter Payton Man of the Year" award for player achievements in community service during a particular season.

The Chicago Bears honored Payton's career and life on November 1, 2009 by airing a special tribute video during halftime. The video was comprised of highlight clips from Payton's career and interview segments from Mike Ditka, Virginia McCaskey, Richard Dent, and many other members of the Bears organization. Payton's wife, daughter, son, and mother were present to watch video, which aired on Soldier Field's Jumbotron.^[43]

Career statistics

Payton was the NFL's all-time leader in rushing yards and all-purpose yards prior to the 2002 NFL season, when Emmitt Smith broke his record. Payton led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns in the 1977 NFL season. Also, he was among the top-ten players for rushing attempts during his entire career, including 1976, 1977, and 1978, leading the category in 1979. As of 2006, he was the NFL's second all-time rusher, and he ranked third in rushing touchdowns scored.^[44]

Regular season

• Rushing Yards: 16,726
• Rushing Touchdowns: 110
• Rushing Attempts: 3,838
• Receiving Yards: 4,538
• Receiving Touchdowns: 15
• Receptions: 492
• All-purpose yards: 21,803
• Passing Touchdowns: 8^[45]

Post-season

• Rushing Yards: 632
• Rushing Touchdowns: 2
• Rushing Attempts: 180
• Receiving Yards: 178
• Receptions: 22

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton. New York Times book review of Never Die Easy. Michael Lichtenstein, 2000.
2. ^ Walter Payton. Chicago Bears, 2007.
3. ^ ^{a b c d} Walter Payton, Extraordinary Running Back for Chicago Bears, Dies at 45. New York Times, November 2, 1999.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Payton34.com, Walter Payton Biography, Retrieved on May 16, 2007.
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} BearsHistory.com, Walter Payton, Bears RB, 1975–1987, Retrieved on May 16, 2007.
6. ^ Walter Payton Biography, Retrieved on May 16, 2007.
7. ^ ^{a b c d e} Walter Payton; Don Yaeger (2001). Never Die Easy. Random House. ISBN 0375758216. 
8. ^ www.biography.com
9. ^ Walter Payton. PBS, 2002.
10. ^ "1970's Chicago Bears: Peaks & Valleys". http://www.bearshistory.com/seasons/1970schicagobears.aspx. 
11. ^ "34 Walter Payton". http://www.chicagobears.com/tradition/hof-payton.asp. 
12. ^ R. Ryan Takes Baltimore Defense Back to '86 With the 46. Washington Post, June 14, 2005.
13. ^ Walter Payton; Don Yaeger (2001). Never Die Easy. Random House. p. 124. ISBN 0375758216. 
14. ^ "1985 Chicago Bears–World Champions Again". http://www.bearshistory.com/seasons/1985chicagobears.aspx. 
15. ^ Brown, Payton delivered the pain Pro Football Weekly, 2007.
16. ^ Sweetness, Till the Bitter End. Washington Post, November 2, 1999.
17. ^ ^{a b} Main ingredient in 'Sweetness' was heart Pro Football Weekly, August 1, 1993.
18. ^ Walter Payton Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2007.
19. ^ "Jarrett Payton". National Football League. http://www.nfl.com/players/jarrettpayton/profile?id=PAY601397. Retrieved 2009-11-02. 
20. ^ "[Publisher=Walter & Connie Payton Foundation http://payton34.com/brittney.asp]". Publisher=Walter & Connie Payton Foundation. Retrieved 2009-11-02. 
21. ^ "Q&A: Hall of Fame eve". http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/payton/article1.html. 
22. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: AUTO RACING; Payton Escapes Serious Injury in Crash". New York Times. 1993-08-21. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE4DA123DF932A1575BC0A965958260. Retrieved 2008-12-04. 
23. ^ Kup's Column Irv Kupcinet.Chicago Sun-Times, November 5, 1999. Cited through Findarticles.com.
24. ^ 1979 Chicago Bears. BearsHistory.com, 2003.
25. ^ Saturday Night Live – Walter Peyton/Joe Montana/Debbie Harry (1987). IMDB
26. ^ Running Wild. Time, 1997.
27. ^ "Gallbladder & Bile Duct Cancer". Johns Hopkins University Pathology. http://pathology2.jhu.edu/gbbd/types_ca.cfm. Retrieved 2009-11-03. 
28. ^ ^{a b} "Payton dead at 45". http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/payton/article6.html. 
29. ^ "NFL's all-time leading rusher dies at 45". http://static.espn.go.com/nfl/news/1999/1031/144491.html. 
30. ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6885
31. ^ Chicagoans Bid Payton Fond Farewell At Soldier Field. New York Times, November 7, 1999.
32. ^ Walter Payton 1954 - 1999. Daily Herald, 1999.
33. ^ Levin Joins Senate Colleagues, NFL Players to Promote Organ and Tissue Donation United States Senate, 2000.
34. ^ Jennings death puts lung cancer in the public eye. ABC, 2005.
35. ^ Jesse White Unveils New Organ Donor License Plate. Illinois Secretary of State, August 2000.
36. ^ ^{a b} "Walter Payton, Bears RB, 1975–1987". http://www.bearshistory.com/lore/walterpayton.aspx. 
37. ^ Walter Payton Cancer Fund: Research. www.payton34.org.
38. ^ Emmitt Smith. ESPN, 2007.
39. ^ "IS LT the best ever?". http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=neel/061214. 
40. ^ Green Bay Packers Player Profile, Ahman Green
41. ^ Secretary of State White Joins City Clerk Laski to Increase Organ Donor Participation Illinois
42. ^ Walter Payton Liver Center opens at UIC. American Broadcasting Network (ABC7Chicago.com), September 5, 2007.
43. ^ Mayer, Larry (2009-11-02). "Emotional video tribute highlights Payton ceremony". chicagobears.com. http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=6263. Retrieved 2009-11-02. 
44. ^ NFL Rushing Records. NFL Record and Fact Book, Updated Through 2006 Season.
45. ^ ChicagoBears.com, How did Kevin Jones fare against the Bears?. Retrieved on July 21, 2008.

External links

• Payton34.com - The Walter and Connie Payton Foundation
• Walter Payton's Roundhouse
• Walter Payton Cancer Fund
• Walter Payton Liver Center
• Official Chicago Bears Tribute Page
• Sports Illustrated - Walter Payton
• Biography at Bearshistory.com - Walter Payton Biography from Chicago Bears History

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Bert Jones	AP NFL Most Valuable Player 1977 season	Succeeded by Terry Bradshaw
Preceded by Jim Brown	NFL Career Rushing Yards Leader 1984 - 2002	Succeeded by Emmitt Smith

v • d • e 1975 NFL Draft First Round Selections Steve Bartkowski · Randy White · Ken Huff · Walter Payton · Mack Mitchell · Robert Brazile · Larry Burton · Gary Johnson · Mike Fanning · Jimmy Webb · Dennis Harrah · Kurt Schumacher · Lynn Boden · Glenn Cameron · Don Hardeman · Russ Francis · Louis Wright · Thomas Henderson · Tom Ruud · Doug France · Tim Gray · Mike Williams · Darryl Carlton · Neal Colzie · Mark Mullaney · Dave Brown Draft Years 70  • 71  • 72  • 73  • 74  • 75  • 76  • 77  • 78  • 79  • 80  • 81  • 82  • 83  • 84  • 85  • 86  • 87  • 88  • 89  • 90  • 91  • 92  • 93  • 94  • 95  • 96  • 97  • 98  • 99  • 00  • 01  • 02  • 03  • 04  • 05  • 06  • 07  • 08  • 09

v • d • e Chicago Bears Super Bowl XX Champions 4 Steve Fuller | 6 Kevin Butler | 8 Maury Buford | 9 Jim McMahon | 18 Mike Tomczak | 20 Thomas Sanders | 21 Leslie Frazier | 22 Dave Duerson | 23 Shaun Gayle | 26 Matt Suhey | 27 Mike Richardson | 29 Dennis Gentry | 31 Ken Taylor | 33 Calvin Thomas | 34 Walter Payton | 45 Gary Fencik | 48 Reggie Phillips | 50 Mike Singletary | 51 Jim Morrissey | 52 Cliff Thrift | 53 Dan Rains | 54 Brian Cabral | 55 Otis Wilson | 57 Tom Thayer | 58 Wilber Marshall | 59 Ron Rivera | 60 Tom Andrews | 62 Mark Bortz | 63 Jay Hilgenberg | 70 Henry Waechter | 71 Andy Frederick | 72 William Perry | 73 Mike Hartenstine | 74 Jim Covert | 75 Stefan Humphries | 76 Steve McMichael | 78 Keith Van Horne | 80 Tim Wrightman | 82 Ken Margerum | 83 Willie Gault | 85 Dennis McKinnon | 87 Emery Moorehead | 89 Keith Ortego | 95 Richard Dent (MVP) | 98 Tyrone Keys | 99 Dan Hampton Head Coach: Mike Ditka Coaches: Dale Haupt | Ed Hughes | Steve Kazor | Jim LaRue | Ted Plumb | Johnny Roland | Buddy Ryan | Dick Stanfel

v • d • e National Football League | NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team Sammy Baugh | Otto Graham | Joe Montana | Johnny Unitas | Jim Brown | Marion Motley | Bronko Nagurski | Walter Payton | Gale Sayers | O.J. Simpson | Steve Van Buren | Lance Alworth | Raymond Berry | Don Hutson | Jerry Rice | Mike Ditka | Kellen Winslow | Roosevelt Brown | Forrest Gregg | Anthony Muñoz | John Hannah | Jim Parker | Gene Upshaw | Mel Hein | Mike Webster | Deacon Jones | Gino Marchetti | Reggie White | Joe Greene | Bob Lilly | Merlin Olsen | Dick Butkus | Jack Ham | Ted Hendricks | Jack Lambert | Willie Lanier | Ray Nitschke | Lawrence Taylor | Mel Blount | Mike Haynes | Dick Lane | Rod Woodson | Ken Houston | Ronnie Lott | Larry Wilson | Ray Guy | Jan Stenerud | Billy Johnson

v • d • e National Football League | NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team Terry Bradshaw | Ken Stabler | Roger Staubach | Earl Campbell | Franco Harris | Walter Payton | O.J. Simpson | Harold Carmichael | Drew Pearson | Lynn Swann | Paul Warfield | Dave Casper | Charlie Sanders | Dan Dierdorf | Art Shell | Rayfield Wright | Ron Yary | Joe DeLamielleure | John Hannah | Larry Little | Gene Upshaw | Jim Langer | Mike Webster | Carl Eller | L.C. Greenwood | Harvey Martin | Jack Youngblood | Joe Greene | Bob Lilly | Merlin Olsen | Alan Page | Bobby Bell | Robert Brazile | Dick Butkus | Jack Ham | Ted Hendricks | Jack Lambert | Willie Brown | Jimmy Johnson | Roger Wehrli | Louis Wright | Dick Anderson | Cliff Harris | Ken Houston | Larry Wilson | Garo Yepremian | Jim Bakken | Ray Guy

v • d • e National Football League | NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team Joe Montana | Dan Fouts | Walter Payton | Eric Dickerson | Roger Craig | John Riggins | Jerry Rice | Steve Largent | James Lofton | Art Monk | Kellen Winslow | Ozzie Newsome | Anthony Muñoz | Jim Covert | Gary Zimmerman | Joe Jacoby | John Hannah | Russ Grimm | Bill Fralic | Mike Munchak | Dwight Stephenson | Mike Webster | Reggie White | Howie Long | Lee Roy Selmon | Bruce Smith | Randy White | Dan Hampton | Keith Millard | Dave Butz | Mike Singletary | Lawrence Taylor | Ted Hendricks | Jack Lambert | Andre Tippett | John Anderson | Carl Banks | Mike Haynes | Mel Blount | Frank Minnifield | Lester Hayes | Ronnie Lott | Kenny Easley | Deron Cherry | Joey Browner | Nolan Cromwell | Sean Landeta | Reggie Roby | Morten Andersen | Gary Anderson | Eddie Murray | Billy Johnson | John Taylor | Mike Nelms | Rick Upchurch | Bill Walsh | Chuck Noll

v • d • e NFL MVP Award from the Associated Press 1957: J. Brown | 1958: J. Brown | 1959: Unitas | 1960: Not Awarded | 1961: Hornung | 1962: J. Taylor | 1963: Tittle | 1964: Unitas | 1965: J. Brown | 1966: Starr | 1967: Unitas | 1968: Morrall | 1969: Gabriel | 1970: Brodie | 1971: Page | 1972: L. Brown | 1973: Simpson | 1974: Stabler | 1975: Tarkenton 1976: Jones | 1977: Payton | 1978: Bradshaw | 1979: Campbell | 1980: Sipe | 1981: Anderson | 1982: Moseley | 1983: Theismann | 1984: Marino | 1985: Allen | 1986: L. Taylor | 1987: Elway | 1988: Esiason | 1989: Montana | 1990: Montana | 1991: Thomas | 1992: Young | 1993: Smith | 1994: Young | 1995: Favre | 1996: Favre | 1997: Favre & Sanders | 1998: Davis | 1999: Warner | 2000: Faulk | 2001: Warner | 2002: Gannon | 2003: Manning & McNair | 2004: Manning | 2005: Alexander | 2006: Tomlinson | 2007: Brady | 2008: Manning

v • d • e NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award from the Associated Press 1972: Brown • 1973: Simpson • 1974: Stabler • 1975: Tarkenton • 1976: Jones • 1977: Payton • 1978: Campbell • 1979: Campbell (x2) • 1980: Campbell (x3) • 1981: Anderson • 1982: Fouts • 1983: Theismann • 1984: Marino • 1985: Allen • 1986: Dickerson • 1987: Rice • 1988: Craig • 1989: Montana • 1990: Moon • 1991: Thomas • 1992: Young • 1993: Rice (x2) • 1994: Sanders • 1995: Favre • 1996: Davis • 1997: Sanders (x2) • 1998: Davis (x2) • 1999: Faulk • 2000: Faulk (x2) • 2001: Faulk (x3) • 2002: Holmes • 2003: Lewis • 2004: Manning • 2005: Alexander • 2006: Tomlinson • 2007: Brady • 2008: Brees

v • d • e Bert Bell Award 1959: Unitas | 1960: Van Brocklin | 1961: Hornung | 1962: Robustelli | 1963: J. Brown | 1964: Unitas | 1965: Retzlaff | 1966: Meredith | 1967: Unitas | 1968: Kelly | 1969: Gabriel | 1970: Blanda | 1971: Staubach | 1972: L. Brown | 1973: Simpson | 1974: Olsen | 1975: Tarkenton | 1976: Stabler | 1977: Griese | 1978: Bradshaw | 1979: Campbell | 1980: Jaworski | 1981: Anderson | 1982: Theismann | 1983: Riggins | 1984: Marino | 1985: Payton | 1986: Taylor | 1987: Rice | 1988: Cunningham | 1989: Montana | 1990: Cunningham | 1991: Sanders | 1992: Young | 1993: Smith | 1994: Young | 1995: Favre | 1996: Favre | 1997: Sanders | 1998: Cunningham | 1999: Warner | 2000: Gannon | 2001: Faulk | 2002: Gannon | 2003: Manning | 2004: Manning | 2005: Alexander | 2006: Tomlinson | 2007: Brady | 2008: Peterson

v • d • e Walter Payton Man of the Year Award 1970: Unitas · 1971: Hadl · 1972: Lanier · 1973: Dawson · 1974: Blanda · 1975: Anderson · 1976: Harris · 1977: Payton · 1978: Staubach · 1979: Greene · 1980: Carmichael · 1981: Swann · 1982: Theismann · 1983: Benirschke · 1984: Lyons · 1985: Stephenson · 1986: Williams · 1987: Duerson · 1988: Largent · 1989: Moon · 1990: Singletary · 1991: Muñoz · 1992: Elway · 1993: Thomas · 1994: Seau · 1995: Esiason · 1996: Green · 1997: Aikman · 1998: Marino · 1999: Carter · 2000: Flanigan & Brooks · 2001: Bettis · 2002: Vincent · 2003: Shields · 2004: Dunn · 2005: Manning · 2006: Brees & Tomlinson · 2007: Taylor · 2008: Warner

v • d • e 10,000 Rushing Yards Club Emmitt Smith · Walter Payton · Barry Sanders · Curtis Martin · Jerome Bettis · Eric Dickerson · Tony Dorsett · Jim Brown · Marshall Faulk · Edgerrin James · Marcus Allen · LaDainian Tomlinson · Franco Harris · Thurman Thomas · John Riggins · Corey Dillon · O. J. Simpson · Fred Taylor · Ricky Watters · Warrick Dunn · Tiki Barber · Eddie George · Ottis Anderson · Jamal Lewis Italics denotes active player

v • d • e Chicago Bears Retired Numbers #3 Bronko Nagurski • #5 George McAfee • #7 George Halas • #28 Willie Galimore • #34 Walter Payton • #40 Gale Sayers • #41 Brian Piccolo • #42 Sid Luckman • #50 Mike Singletary • #51 Dick Butkus • #56 Bill Hewitt • #61 Bill George • #66 Bulldog Turner • #77 Red Grange

v • d • e Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1993 Dan Fouts • Larry Little • Chuck Noll • Walter Payton • Bill Walsh

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