FANS ALSO LIKE
Walter Payton
Walter Payton, widely recognized as one of the greatest running backs in the history of American football, was born on July 25, 1954, in Columbia, Mississippi, USA. He established himself as a dominant player early on, exhibiting his exceptional athleticism while playing for Jackson State University before being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1975 National Football League (NFL) Draft.
Payton's career spans over an impressive 13 seasons with the Bears, during which he amassed a total of 16,726 rushing yards and broke numerous records. These achievements earned him the nickname "Sweetness," a testament to his smooth, agile playing style. Notable among his accomplishments is the NFL Most Valuable Player award in 1977 and his instrumental role in leading the Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX in 1986. His record for career rushing yards stood for nearly two decades, underscoring his significant impact on the sport.
Off the field, Payton was renowned for his philanthropic efforts. He established the Walter Payton Foundation to support underprivileged children, demonstrating his commitment to giving back to his community. His life was cut tragically short due to a rare liver disease in 1999. Today, his legacy lives on, both in his enduring contributions to the sport of football and his unwavering dedication to service. The NFL's Man of the Year Award, given annually to a player who demonstrates excellence on and off the field, was renamed in his honor in 1999 to acknowledge his enduring impact.
Listed on...
- #5
OF 658
- #1
OF 197
The Best NFL Running Backs of All TimePeople who voted for Walter Payton on this list also upvoted Magic Johnson on The Top NBA Players Of All Time - #168
OF 1295
The 1000+ Best Athletes Of All Time, RankedPeople over 50 are 3x more likely to vote for this
