Walter Jerry Payton (born July 25, 1954 in Columbia, Mississippi - died November 1, 1999 in Barrington, Illinois) was an American football running back and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Career
Payton spent his entire Xiii-season career (1975-1987) with a Chicago Bears. A Bears drafted him in the foremost spherical (quaternary overall) of the 1975 draft away from Jackson State University, where he was 4th in the ballot for the Heisman Trophy (which was won that year by Ohio State University running back Archie Griffin, who would win it over again a charted season). Nicknamed "Sweetness," Payton belt up, humble, & generous off a field, however an avid, strong-practical competition on that. He earned many accomplishments, including his crowning accomplishment: breaking Jim Brown's NFL career rushing record against the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field in Chicago on October 7, 1984. He besides broke an additional Jim Red record in that game by owning his 59th career One c-front yard performance. His career rushing record would have for Xviii years until surpassed by Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith in 2002.

Against a Minnesota Vikings on November 20, 1977, Walter Paytin rushed for 275 yards on Xl carries when fighting the severe out break of influenza. A 275 yards was an NFL single-game record until it was broken by Corey Dillon of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001. He was a NFL's Player of the Year and its Most Valuable Player in 1977.

Payton too scored 125 career touchdowns, seventh on the tons-period scoring listing. Additionally to existence the wow heading back, Payton was besides an fantabulous receiver and blocker, and, late within his career, was likewise an emergency quarterback and punter. Inside of these game against a Vikings in October 21, 1979, he ran for, passed for, & caught the touchdown, the exploit that has lone been handle 6 more players, last LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers.

Within his career, he missed good a single game. It was inside his cub month whenever he suffered the hallux injury. For years, Payton insisted he stand played.

1985
Although Walter Paytin was the legitimate star & an icon in the city of Chicago, he played on a few nasty Bears teams. That changed within 1985. Previous Bears tight end Mike Ditka had returned to the team in 1982 when its head coach & began rebuilding it. Inside 1985, a Bears got an unbelievable year, running 15-One in the regular year (by owning their lone mar existence an horrible loss to the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football in the 13th week. the Bears bounced back & finished strongly, so, augmented by a song Bears members recorded known as The Super Bowl Shuffle, steamrolled through the NFC playoffs, beating the New York Giants and the-then Los Angeles Rams, and finally the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.

however sweetly a triumph was for the Chicago Bears & their fans, it turned bent on exist as anything but sweet for Walter Payton, world health organization rushed for simply 61 yards in the game. A select few Bears fans believed that Mike Ditka insulted Payton by putting cub phenomenon William "The Refrigerator" Perry, normally a defensive tackle, in at running back on a goal line play and giving him the ball. Payton was visibly upset on the sideline astir non existence allowed to contribute other.

Both seasons late, Walter Payton retired sustaining 16,726 yards, the number surpassed per Dallas Cowboys' Emmitt Smith in 2002. In July 31, 1993, Payton was inducted into the In favor Football Hall of Fame. His boy Jarrett Payton, now a going back by using the Tennessee Titans, gave his induction speech. Coincidentally, Walter Payton's previous mate, Jeff Fisher, is the Titans' head coach.

Style
Walter Payton's style of play was distinctive & memorable. At Quint'-Tenner", Payton wasn't a large man, nor was he a "separatist" runner, but at a concrete-like 200 pounds, Payton's forte was power and quickness. His large leg muscles led to an unusual stiff-legged running gait, and he was not content to gain yards and run out of bounds. He could often be seen with his hand on the facemask on a pursuing tackler, a tactic which would surely draw a penalty today. He was perhaps the most adept player at the "goal line leap" into the endzone. A few times, he leaped straight over a defender who was standing straight up for a touchdown. At the end of every carry, Payton would extend the ball as far forward as possible with his arms. This tactic was considered to be an advantage to his team, perhaps gaining a few precious inches which would add up over the course of a game.

Post-Career
After retirement, Payton dabbled in auto racing and was part of a group of investors that sought to bring an NFL team back to St. Louis. This effort, however, proved unsuccessful; the NFL instead awarded expansion franchises to Jacksonville, Florida and Charlotte, North Carolina in 1995. A college preparatory high school in Chicago is named after him.

Illness
In February 1999, Payton announced that he had a rare liver disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis. Unable to receive a liver transplant because of bile duct cancer, Payton died in his home in South Barrington, Illinois, on November 1, 1999. After breaking Payton's career rushing record in 2002, Emmitt Smith tearfully paid tribute to Walter, saying that Payton had taught him how to conduct himself on and off the field. Payton was survived by his wife Connie, son Jarrett, and daughter Brittany.