Walter Payton (July 25, 1954 – November 1, 1999) was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons. 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 selectee, once held the league's record for most career rushing yards, touchdowns, carries, yards from scrimmage, all-purpose yards, 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 1! 975, who selected him as the 1975 Draft's fourth overall pick . Payton proceeded to win two NFL Most Valuable Player 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, aged 45, from cholangiocarcinoma. His legacy includes the Walter Payton Award, the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, and a heightened awareness of the need for organ donations. 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 Investments 7 Illness and death 8 Legacy 9 Career statistics 9.1 Career totals 10 NFL records 10.1 Service 10.2 Rushing attempts 10.3 Rushing yards gained 10.4 Rushing touchdowns 10.5 Yards from scrimmage gained 10.6 All-purpose attempts 10.7 All-purpose yards gained 11 References 12 External links [edit] Early life Payton was one of three childr! en born to Edward and Alyne Payton in Columbia, Mississippi. H! is fathe r 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 John J. Jefferson High School, Payton played drums in the marching band, participated in the track team and sang in the school choir.[3][4] Outside of school, he played drums in jazz-rock groups.[4] 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.[4] Once he began to play football, as a junior, he achieved instant success as a running back.[4] 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, Charles L. Boston, had become an assistant and Payton boycotted some of the spring practices in protest, but returned during the fall season.[5][6] He then earned state-wide honors as a member of Mississippi's all-state team, leading Columbia to an unexpected 8-2 season.[6][7] His performance helped ease the local tensions surrounding desegregation.[3][8] [edit] 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.[9] He decided to pursue his collegiate career at the historically African-American, Jackson State University, where his older brother Eddie had played football (declining a scholarship offer from the University of Kansas, where fellow Chicago Bears running back legend Gale Sayers had played).[5][6] While at! tending Jackson State, Payton played alongside many future pro! fessiona l 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, Payton was selected for the All-American Team. The following year he was named Black College Player of the Year.[10] Payton graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor's degree in Communications.[5][6] 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.[11] In 1996, Payton was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[6] On January 18, 2010, it was announced that Payton would be one of eleven members of the inaugural class inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame on February 20, 2010.[12] [edit] P! rofessional career [edit] 1975–1982 The Chicago Bears drafted Payton in the first round of the 1975 NFL Draft, 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.[5][6][13] 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 Associat! ed Press and Pro Football Writers of America's Most Valuable P! layer aw ards. A memorable game of the 1977 NFL season was against the Minnesota Vikings on November 20. He rushed for a then-record 275 yards, breaking the previous record of 273 yards held by O.J. Simpson.[14] By the end of the decade, Payton had received additional accolades for his exploits as a blocker, receiver, emergency punter, and quarterback.[5][6][15] In that record-setting game against the Vikings, Payton was suffering with a 101-degree fever and intense flu. He played through his illness, rushing for 275 yards on 40 attempts, with 1 touchdown. His longest run was for 58 yards, and he caught one pass for 6 yards. He broke O.J. Simpson's single-game rushing record of 273 yards. His record stood for 23 years until Corey Dillon of the Cincinnati Bengals ran for 278 yards against the Denver Broncos in 2000. Since Dillon, three other players have beaten his record. Adrian Peterson holds the current single-game rushing record of 296 yards against the San Diego Chargers.[citatio! n needed] [edit] 1983–1986 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 of 12,312 yards. In 1985, Payton rushed for more than 1,500 yards, helping the Bears establish the league's second-best offense. The Bears' 46 defense of that season would go on to become one of the best in NFL history, setting a record for fewest points allowed.[16] Payton performed with his teammates in the widely relea! sed 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.[17] In a later interview, Ditka stated that Payton's lack of a touchdown in this game was one of his major regrets.[5][6][18] [edit] 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, which broke the record for most rushing yards by any NFL player in history, and scored 110 touchdowns. He became the first African American to break a record that was held only by whites in the NFL during modern football (1955–present). 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.[5][6] The only game he missed in his 13-year career was 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.[4] [edit]
walter payton wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Walter Payton (July 25, 1954 – November 1, 1999) was an A! merican football player who Payton's legacy continues through! the cha ritable Walter and Connie Read the rest
walter payton biography from answers com
Walter Jerry Payton (born July 25, 1954, Columbia, Miss., U.S. — died Nov. 1, 1999, Barrington, Ill.) U.S Read the rest
walter payton wikipedia the free encyclopedia
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. Read the rest
hall of famers quot; walter payton
Walter Payton, the Chicago Bears' first-round choice and th! e fourth player Payton's 492 career pass receptions for 4,538 yards and 15 touchdowns Read the rest
walter and connie payton foundation
Official site, with a biography, memorabilia, and information about the Walter Payton Foundation. Read the rest
walter payton jersey 60% discount authentic quality only $59
Get Walter Payton Jersey, Walter Payton Jerseys, Payton Jersey 60% Discount With Authentic Quality. Read the rest
walter payton biography
Biography of Chicago Bears lege! nd Walter Payton. On this I reflected as I sat in Soldier Fie! ld on No vember 6, 1999, for the late Payton's public memorial ceremony. Read the rest
walter payton walter amp; connie payton foundation
Walter & Connie Payton Foundation, football, charity, kids, transplant, organ donation, donor Read the rest
walter payton chicago bears
On this page you will find a tribute video, highlights, photo gallery, and a look at Walter Payton's lasting legacy with the Chicago Bears. Read the rest
walter payton
Walter Payton on WN Network delivers the latest Videos and Editable pages for News &! amp; Events, including Entertainment, Music, Sports, Science and more, Read the rest