Walter Payton
Career information High school: Columbia (MS) College: Jackson State NFL Draft: 1975 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4 Debuted in 1975 for the Chicago Bears Last played in 1987 for the Chicago Bears Career history Chicago Bears (1975–1987) Career highlights and awards Super Bowl champion (XX) NFC champion (1985) 1976 NFL MVP (SN) 1977 NFL MVP (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN) 1985 NFL MVP (NEA, MX) 1977 NFL/NFC Offensive Player of the Year (AP, PW, SN, UPI) 1985 NFL/NFC Offensive Player of the Year (UPI) 6× AP First Team All-Pro (1976, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1985) 3× AP Second Team All-Pro (1978-1979, 1986) 9× Pro Bowl (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986) Pro Bowl MVP (1977) NFL 1970s All-Decade Team NFL 1980s All-Decade Team NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team Chicago Bears #34 retired Pro Football Hall of Fame (1993) College Football Hall of Fame (1996) List of NFL Records Career NFL statistics Rushing Yards 16,726 Average 4.4 Touchdowns 110 Stats at NFL.com Pro Football Hall of Fame College Football Hall of Fame Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1953 – 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 the NFL. 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. His eight career touchdown passes are an NFL record for non-quarterbacks. 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. 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 Chicago Bears in 1975, 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 46, 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.