Walter Payton

American football player

Died: November 1, 1999

SportsFamous Persons

Who was Walter Payton?

Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1953 – 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. 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. 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). He has held NFL records for career rushing yards, touchdowns, carries, yards from scrimmage, all-purpose yards, and many other categories.

Payton (34) pictured breaking the NFL's career rushing record on October 7, 1984

Historical significance

Nicknamed "Sweetness", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Payton proceeded to win the 1977 AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award and won Super Bowl XX with the 1985 Chicago Bears. A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Payton is remembered as a prolific rusher.

The Walter Payton Center at Halas Hall within the Chicago Bears HQ

Sources and further reading

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Wikipedia source

Cite this page

MLA

“Walter Payton.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/walter-payton/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

Walter Payton. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/walter-payton/

Chicago

“Walter Payton.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/walter-payton/.

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