Walter Jerry Payton was an American professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League for 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears. Nicknamed Sweetness, he is regarded as one of the greatest football players ever.
Is Walter Payton a Hall of Famer?
The Bears employed Walter Payton for thirteen seasons. He had 3,838 conveys for 16,726 yards, 492 gets for 4,538 yards, and scored 125 scores. He was invited to nine Pro Bowl games. He won 1 Hostile Player of the Year grant, 1 MVP grant, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year grant, and 1 title. In 1993, he was elected to the Hall of Fame.
The Walter and Connie Payton Foundation is a charitable organization that continues Payton’s legacy. Most people say that his appeals and his foundation, which he established after his death, raised awareness of the need for organ donations. After his requests, gifts in Illinois soared, and the local organ bank of Illinois was overpowered with calls.
Payton was the NFL’s all-time leader in rushing yards and all-purpose yards before the 2002 NFL season when Emmitt Smith broke his record.
Payton also held the rushing touchdown record until it was broken by Marcus Allen during the 1996 NFL season. He also held the single-game rushing record until the 2000 NFL season, when it was broken by Corey Dillon.
Payton led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns in the 1977 NFL season. Also, he was among the top-ten players for rushing attempts during his entire career, including 1976, 1977, and 1978, and led the category in 1979.
