American · Columbia, Mississippi · Born 25 July 1954 · Died 1999-11-01Walter Payton, nicknamed 'Sweetness', was a legendary Chicago Bears running back who retired as the NFL's all-time leading rusher and helped Chicago win Super Bowl XX.
Walter Payton set a single-game rushing record of 275 yards in 1977, broke Jim Brown's career rushing mark in 1984, and retired as the NFL's all-time leading rusher — a player who famously did not begin organised football until his junior year of high school and wasted none of the time that followed.. His death prompted renewed national awareness of organ donation, and the NFL's annual Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, recognising charitable work, is named in his honour.
'Sweetness', legendary Chicago Bears running back
How They Played
Elusive runner with exceptional balance, strong pass-catching ability, and famous high-stepping style
Lasting Impact
Revolutionized running back position with complete skill set, inspired Walter Payton Award for best FCS player
Career Honours
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1993)
- Super Bowl XX champion
- NFL MVP (1977)
- 9x Pro Bowl
- 5x First-team All-Pro
| Team | Period | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 1975–1987 | 190 |
American Athletes