Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1953[notes 1] – November 1, 1999) was an American professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears. Nicknamed "Sweetness", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time.
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 caught 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 namesake 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.
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Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1953 – November 1, 1999) was an American professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL)...
The WalterPayton Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding offensive player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly...
The WalterPayton NFL Man of the Year award is presented annually by the National Football League (NFL) honoring a player's commitment to philanthropy...
WalterPayton College Preparatory High School (WPCP) is a public 4–year magnet high school located in the Old Town neighborhood on the near–north side...
Jarrett WalterPayton (born December 26, 1980) is a former American football running back. He is the son of WalterPayton. Payton was previously signed...
ending his streak at two years. He was named the 2005 winner of the WalterPayton Man of the Year Award and nominated for the FedEx Air Player of the...
with the Steelers. Noted for his philanthropy, Wilson was named the WalterPayton Man of the Year in 2020 and was the recipient of the Bart Starr Award...
PSC-associated liver cancer (specifically cholangiocarcinoma) at the age of 30 WalterPayton – died of complications of PSC Kieron Dyer – professional footballer...
Retrieved November 20, 2014. "Bob Avellini, Bears QB who teamed with WalterPayton, dies". ESPN. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024. Former Bears QB Bob...
The WalterPayton Trophy (also known as EAS Speed & Strength Award) has been awarded annually since 2005 to the most athletic high school football player...
forfeits) against all current Southland opponents: Overall (2–8) The WalterPayton Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding college offensive...
drafted WalterPayton from Jackson State University with their first pick. He won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award in the 1977–78 season. Payton would...
the Patriots and Super Bowl LII with the Eagles. He also received the WalterPayton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2018 for his charitable work, which included...
Player of the Year three times, and he was the recipient of the 2018 WalterPayton Award during his senior year in which he set the NCAA Football Championship...
college football for the North Dakota State Bison, where he received the WalterPayton and Jerry Rice Awards as a freshman en route to winning the 2020 NCAA...
statistics and failed to score a touchdown himself, star running back WalterPayton was also later credited as being a major factor in the Bears' victory...
and won Super Bowl XLVII with the Ravens. In 2015, he was named the WalterPayton Man of the Year for his community service. Despite not being named to...
27–0 behind a huge day from star running back WalterPayton. This game featured a famous image from Payton's career: a 50+ yard run down the sideline, led...
Super Bowl XLVII, Birk retired from the NFL. In 2011 he was awarded the WalterPayton NFL Man of the Year Award. Following his retirement in 2012, Birk returned...
worth up to $31.3 million. Franklin was the Colts nominee for the 2023 WalterPayton Man of the Year Award for his charitable efforts in founding and leading...
and also rushed for 408 yards and 12 touchdowns. Gronowski won the WalterPayton award as a junior. South Dakota State repeated as FCS national champions...
The Two Brothers Roundhouse, formerly the WalterPayton Roundhouse, America's Historical Roundhouse, and Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Roundhouse and...
yards short of breaking the NFL's then all-time rushing record held by WalterPayton. Sanders cited the Lions' front office and declining team production...
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