Payton

submitted: Mar 25th 2009 | by: DeniseISmithson | Total views: 12 | Word Count: 622 | | |

Walter Payton's Hall of Fame-worthy career set an example for every NFL player to come after him. Even though Payton passed nearly a decade ago, Bears fans remember him to this day as if he had only retired last week. Sportscasters still measure new players against Payton, an intimidating standard to be sure.

Born in 1954 in Columbia, MS, Payton began to play football in high school, continuing to play for Jackson State in college. It was here that he developed his already remarkable natural talent for the game.

Payton was fourth in contention for the Heisman Trophy in 1975, the year that saw him becoming Chicago's fourth draft pick. Walter Payton got off to a slow start his first season, with a mere 7 touchdowns and 679 yards, but gave the world a taste of what would come later in his final game of the season. This game saw the Bears facing off against the New Orleans Saints; Payton made a 134 yard run, something which had not been seen in Chicago since the Gale Sayers era.

Payton's second season was more uniformly impressive, with 1,000 yards and the NFL MVP title. This year saw the Bears headed to the playoffs, where Walter Payton ran 274 yards in just one game - this record shattering achievement was not broken until 2000!

Known affectionately as "sweetness" Payton was a favorite with fans and teammates alike for his personality and his impressive record n the gridiron. IN his 13 year NFL career, Payton racked up an astounding 16,726 yards, 110 touchdowns and 77 100-yard rushing games.

Payton accomplished it all while making it look easy. Between 1976 and 1981, he ran 1,000 yards in every season and played in every Pro Bowl from 1979 up until he retired from the sport. While others have since surpassed Payton's rushing record, this may not have been the case had he had a little more time - the 1975 and 1977 seasons were cut short.

Things got even better for Chicago once Coach Mike Ditka came on board. Ditka aggressively recruited new players to support Payton. In 1984, the Bears led their division and Payton broke Jim Brown's running record. The day he broke the record, he dedicated his feat to those athletes whose careers were tragically cut short by injuries and illnesses.

The Bears hurrah came in 1984 where they finished the season 10-6, the first time they made the post-season since 1963. It was then in 1986, that the Bears beat New England in the Super bowl with an ending score of 46-10-a game to be remembered, even if New England stopped Walter's running or scoring attempts-he now had a Super bowl ring and started what is still called "The Super bowl Shuffle."

The following year, Payton's retirement was marked with a huge send off at the Bears home field, Soldier Field in Chicago. After his retirement from the game, he stayed active, sitting on the team's board of directors, beginning a CART racing team and even opening a restaurant. He was name dot the NFL Hall of Fame in 1996, a fitting cap on an extraordinary career.

Payton stunned the world in 1999 with his announcement that he had been diagnosed with the rare autoimmune disease Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. Payton was placed on an organ transplant waiting list (it wasn't his style to use his fame to receive treatment before those even sicker than himself). Tragically, he would pass away in November of that year.

There are many stories fun, exciting, and charming about old number 34 of the Chicago Bear, but perhaps Walter's biggest legacy is the outreach of people signing up for organ donation after his death in Illinois. We still today, miss the man, the shuffle-yeah, we still miss "Sweetness.

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