Walter Payton 1976 Topps 148

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.

Walter Payton

Payton playing for the Chicago Bears in 1984
No. 34
Position	Running back
Personal information
Born	July 25, 1953[notes 1] Columbia, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	November 1, 1999(aged 46) South Barrington, Illinois, U.S.
Listed height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school	Columbia
College	Jackson State (1971–1974)
NFL draft	1975: 1st round, 4th overall pick
Career history
Chicago Bears (1975–1987)
Awards and highlights
Super Bowl champion (XX) NFL Most Valuable Player (1977) NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1977) NFL Man of the Year (1977) 5× First-team All-Pro (1976, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1985) 3× Second-team All-Pro (1978, 1979, 1986) 9× Pro Bowl (1976–1980, 1983–1986) NFL rushing yards leader (1977) NFL rushing touchdowns leader (1977) Bert Bell Award (1985) NFL 1970s All-Decade Team NFL 1980s All-Decade Team NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team Chicago Bears No. 34 retired 100 greatest Bears of All-Time Time All-American (1974) First-team Little All-American (1974) Second-team Little All-American (1973) 3× First-team All-SWAC (1972–1974) NFL record Most consecutive starts by a running back: 170[a]
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards 16,726 Rushing average 4.4 Rushing touchdowns 110 Receptions 492 Receiving yards 4,538 Receiving touchdowns 15 Stats at Pro Football Reference
Pro Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame

Payton began his football career in Mississippiand went on to have an outstanding college football career at Jackson State Universityplaying 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 Awardand 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 threw 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 eponym 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.