Walter Payton
Walter Payton, born on July 25, 1954, in Columbia, Mississippi, is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in American football history. He began his football journey in high school, where he quickly distinguished himself on the field, eventually earning an athletic scholarship to Jackson State University. There, he set multiple NCAA records, including scoring 46 points in a single game, showcasing his remarkable talent and work ethic.
Selected by the Chicago Bears as the first overall pick in the 1974 NFL draft, Payton became known for his unique blend of speed, strength, and agility. He played a remarkable 13 seasons in the NFL, setting records for total rushing yards and touchdowns, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Beyond his athletic prowess, Payton was celebrated for his humility and dedication to his teammates, earning him the affectionate nickname "Sweetness."
After retiring from professional football, he engaged in various business ventures and continued to give back to his community. Sadly, Payton passed away on November 1, 1999, after battling a rare liver disease, but he left behind a legacy as an exemplary role model and a beloved figure in sports history.
Walter Payton
Football Player
- Born: July 25, 1954
- Birthplace: Columbia, Mississippi
- Died: November 1, 1999
- Place of death: South Barrington, Illinois
Sport: Football
Early Life
Walter Jerry Payton was born on July 25, 1954, in Columbia, Mississippi. Walter was the second of three children belonging to Peter and Alyne Payton. The Payton family lived in a neighborhood that included thirteen families, all with boys, which provided plenty of playmates for Walter while he was growing up. One day, when Walter was just a child, the school bell signaled the end of the day. Although the children were supposed to line up to cross the street together, Walter took off running, happy to be out of school. Walter’s teacher shouted to some of the older children to stop him. The older children tried to block his path, but Walter ran faster, dodged, and kept on running. Not one person could catch Walter. Nobody knew that one day he would be running, dodging, and avoiding would-be tacklers as a professional football player.
The Road to Excellence
Walter did not play football during his freshman year in high school. He was more interested in playing the drums and participating in the Boy Scouts. Walter eventually joined the football team of John J. Jefferson High School as a sophomore.
Walter quickly learned that running backs were targets for the defense. It did not take Walter long to realize that the best way to keep from taking hits was to administer them. Instantly, running the ball became more fun. By his first game, Walter was ready to play. On his first official carry, Walter scored on a 65-yard run. By the end of the year, he was an all-star. Mr. and Mrs. Payton raised Walter to do his best at whatever he tried. This ideal of excellence was something that stuck with him throughout his entire life.
Walter decided to attend Jackson State University. In 1972, the sophomore runner had the greatest individual football performance in the history of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Against Lane College, he scored 7 touchdowns and ran two 2-point conversions for 46 points. By the end of his college career, Walter had set then-NCAA records of 66 touchdowns and 464 total points. He also set nine Jackson State University records. He was also named the college player of the year and an all-American.
The Emerging Champion
Walter was the number-one choice of the Chicago Bears in the 1974 NFL draft. Many great names have been associated with the Chicago Bears—Gale Sayers, Dick Butkus, and Bronko Nagurski, just to name a few. As great as these players were, none was better than Walter.
Anytime that Walter carried the ball, fans were likely to see him outrunning defenders, straight-arming tacklers, driving, slashing to change directions, high stepping, or soaring through the air to score. Walter had tremendous speed, strength, and balance. According to rumor, one NFL coach claimed that one day God picked up a chisel and decided to make himself a halfback: The result was Walter Payton, an unstoppable blend of the talents that every NFL coach wanted.
One particular week in 1977, Walter came down with the flu. Although still weak from the virus, Walter played in the next game. It seemed like a typical November Sunday afternoon until number 34 for the Chicago Bears started to run with the ball. Forty rushes later, Walter had amassed 275 yards, breaking O. J. Simpson’s NFL record for rushing yards in a single game. Walter’s record stood until Corey Dillon broke it in 2000.
Continuing the Story
While the average running back lasts just more than four years in the NFL, Walter’s career spanned thirteen seasons. He missed only one game during his entire career. In each of ten seasons, Walter rushed for more than 1,000 yards, an NFL record later broken by Barry Sanders. Walter scored 125 total touchdowns, led the NFC in rushing five times, and had two games with 200 or more yards rushing. Two of the most impressive records for running backs are most career yards and most yards in a game. At one time, Walter held both records. He finished his career with 16,726 rushing yards. In 1993, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1994, he was selected to the NFL’s seventy-fifth anniversary all-time team.
In a time of superegos, Walter was the ultimate team player. He was so genuinely humble that his teammates nicknamed him “Sweetness.” Walter was a polite, religious man. He believed that everything that happened to him was God’s work, and that he was allowed to be a standout for some reason; he always gave God credit for his abilities. Walter was an exemplary role model for young people.
On the day that Walter became the all-time leading NFL rusher, he took time to acknowledge the help and support he had received from his family, teammates, and coaches. He dedicated the record to four running backs who died early in their careers: Brian Piccolo, cancer; Willie Galimore and David Overstreet, car accidents; and Joe Delaney, drowning while trying to save some young boys. These people inspired Walter.
After retiring from professional football, Walter co-owned an Indy car auto-racing team and ran a restaurant and other businesses in the Chicago area. He served on the Bears board of directors and joined groups seeking NFL franchises. Walter eventually was diagnosed as having a rare disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis. The disease seemed to give rise to cancer, and Walter died on November 1, 1999.
Summary
Walter Payton is often described as the greatest all-around back ever to play the game. Furthermore, he was one of the most popular and highly respected individuals in football. Walter could do it all: throw, block, catch, and run. He was the ultimate team player.
The final game of Walter’s career was on January 10, 1988. He gave his best through three years of high school, four years of collegiate football, and thirteen years in the NFL. No runner in the NFL worked harder at developing his talent than Walter did. He always played as if the next snap of the ball would be his last.
Bibliography
Epstein, Eddie. Dominance: The Best Seasons of Pro Football’s Greatest Teams. Dulles, Va.: Brassey’s, 2004.
Mullin, John. Tales from the Chicago Bears Sidelines. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, 2003.
Payton, Walter. Never Die Easy. New York: Villard, 2000.
Platt, Jim, and James Buckley. Sports Immortals: Stories of Inspiration and Achievement. Chicago: Triumph Books, 2002.
Towle, Mike. I Remember Walter Payton: Personal Memories of Football’s “Sweetest” Superstar by the People Who Knew Him Best. Nashville, Tenn.: Cumberland House, 2000.