Preceden

Walter Payton Timeline

(July 25, 1954 – November 1, 1999)

Walter Payton, nicknamed 'Sweetness,' was a legendary American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1987. Renowned for his versatility, durability, and sportsmanship, he set the NFL's all-time rushing record and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Life

Born in Columbia, Mississippi

Jul 25, 1953

Walter Jerry Payton was born in Columbia, Mississippi, one of three children born to Edward Peter 'Pete' Payton (1924–1978) and Alyne Payton (1926–2013). Throughout his life, Payton claimed his date of birth as July 25, 1954, but research by Sports Illustrated's Jeff Pearlman discovered his actual date of birth to be July 25, 1953.

Image source: Walter Payton

Born in Columbia, Mississippi

Marries Connie Norwood

1976

Payton married Connie Norwood in 1976. The couple had two children, Jarrett Payton (born 1980) and Brittney Payton (1985), and resided in South Barrington, Illinois.

Father Pete Payton dies after wrongful DUI accusation

1978

Payton's father was a factory worker who had played semi-professional baseball. He died in jail in 1978 just a couple of hours after being wrongfully accused of driving under the influence due to a stroke that presented symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication.

Jarrett Payton marries on March 4 honoring jersey number

Mar 4, 2009

In 2009, Jarrett married on March 4 (3/4), which was intentionally set to coincide with Payton's jersey number, 34.

Image source: Jarrett Payton

Jarrett Payton marries on March 4 honoring jersey number

College Career

Sets SWAC single-game scoring record at Jackson State

Sep 23, 1972

During Payton's sophomore year at Jackson State, he set a then-best SWAC single-game scoring record by rushing for seven touchdowns (on runs of 6, 8, 2, 3, 1, 2, and 31 yards) and two 2-point conversions for 46 points as Jackson State beat Lane College, 72–0.

Named Black College Player of the Year

1973

In 1973, Payton had a school record 24 rushing touchdowns and was named Black College Player of the Year.

Wins Black College Player of the Year again; All-American selection

1974

Payton won the Black College Player of the Year award again in 1974, in addition to being selected for the All-American Team.

Graduates from Jackson State with communications degree

1975

Payton graduated in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in communications.

NFL Career

Drafted fourth overall by the Chicago Bears

Jan 28, 1975

The Chicago Bears drafted Payton in the first round of the 1975 NFL draft as the fourth overall pick. The Bears had endured several losing seasons after the retirement of the iconic Gale Sayers in 1972.

Image source: 1975 NFL draft

Drafted fourth overall by the Chicago Bears

Rushes for 1,390 yards in breakout 1976 season

1976

During the 1976 season, Payton rushed for 1,390 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. After the season, he was selected to play in the 1977 Pro Bowl, where he was declared the Pro Bowl MVP.

Wins AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award

1977

Payton won the 1977 AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award, cementing his status as one of the league's premier running backs.

Image source: AP NFL Most Valuable Player

Wins AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award

Record-setting game against Minnesota Vikings

Nov 20, 1977

A memorable game of the 1977 season was against the Minnesota Vikings on November 20. His rushing record stood for 23 years until Corey Dillon ran for 278 yards on October 22, 2000; Adrian Peterson set the current record of 296 rushing yards in 2007.

Bears hire Mike Ditka as head coach

1982

The lack of success prompted the Bears' management to replace Neill Armstrong with Mike Ditka for the season that began in the Fall of 1982. Ditka, a tight end during the 1960s and 1970s who would also join the Pro Football Hall of Fame, led the Bears to a 3–6 (strike-shortened) record in 1982, an 8–8 finish in 1983, and a 10–6 finish in 1984.

Image source: Mike Ditka

Bears hire Mike Ditka as head coach

Undergoes arthroscopic surgery on both knees

1983

Payton underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees in 1983. His high-stepping running style may have given his knees, a football player's most vulnerable joints, some protection.

Pressed into service as emergency quarterback

1984

In one 1984 game, Payton was pressed into service as the team's fourth-string quarterback.

Passes Franco Harris as active rushing leader

Sep 19, 1984

On September 19, 1984, Payton passed Franco Harris as the active leader in career rushing yards.

Image source: Franco Harris

Passes Franco Harris as active rushing leader

Breaks Jim Brown's career rushing record

Oct 7, 1984

On October 7, 1984, against the New Orleans Saints, Payton broke Jim Brown's career rushing record of 12,312 yards.

Image source: Jim Brown

Breaks Jim Brown's career rushing record

Rushes for more than 1,500 yards in dominant 1985 season

1985

In 1985, Payton rushed for more than 1,500 yards, helping the Bears establish the league's second-best offense with the emergence of quarterback Jim McMahon.

Image source: 1985 Chicago Bears season

Rushes for more than 1,500 yards in dominant 1985 season

Performs in 'The Super Bowl Shuffle' music video

1985

Payton performed with his teammates in the widely released 1985 music video The Super Bowl Shuffle.

Image source: The Super Bowl Shuffle

Performs in 'The Super Bowl Shuffle' music video

Amasses 1,333 yards in 1986 season

1986

Payton, who was a 12-year veteran, amassed 1,333 yards in the 1986 season. At the end of the season, he announced that he would retire from professional football after completing the 1987 season.

Wins Super Bowl XX with the Bears

Jan 26, 1986

Although Payton's offensive prowess had assisted the Bears throughout the 1985 season, he did not score any touchdowns in the postseason, and the New England Patriots prevented him from reaching the end zone as Chicago won Super Bowl XX.

Image source: Super Bowl XX

Wins Super Bowl XX with the Bears

Final NFL game: playoff loss to Washington Redskins

Jan 10, 1988

Payton 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). His career ended with another loss to the Washington Redskins in the divisional round of the playoffs by the score of 21–17 on January 10, 1988.

Emmitt Smith breaks Payton's all-time rushing record

2002

Payton was the NFL's all-time leader in rushing yards and all-purpose yards prior to the 2002 NFL season when Emmitt Smith broke his record. He also held the rushing touchdown record until it was broken by Marcus Allen during the 1996 NFL season, and the single game rushing record until it was broken by Corey Dillon during the 2000 NFL season.

Image source: Emmitt Smith

Emmitt Smith breaks Payton's all-time rushing record

Post-Football Life

Co-hosts Saturday Night Live with Joe Montana

1987

Payton appeared on a 1987 episode of Saturday Night Live, co-hosting with fellow football player Joe Montana.

Image source: Saturday Night Live

Co-hosts Saturday Night Live with Joe Montana

Accidentally shoots nightclub manager in Schaumburg

1988

In 1988, Payton accidentally shot a manager of a nightclub in Schaumburg, Illinois, that was owned by Payton.

Seeks NFL expansion team for St. Louis

1990

In 1990, Payton, along with many other investors, sought to bring an NFL expansion team to St. Louis. St. Louis eventually received a team when the Los Angeles Rams moved to the city in 1995.

Racing incident at Road America Trans-Am event

1993

Payton drove in several Trans-Am Series events, including a 1993 race at Road America in which his car overturned and caught fire.

Co-founds Walter Payton Power Equipment

1993

In 1993, Payton, along with Mike Lanigan of Mi-Jack Products, co-founded Walter Payton Power Equipment, a midwest crane and heavy equipment distributor.

Appears at WWF SummerSlam backing Razor Ramon

Aug 29, 1994

In 1994, he made an appearance at the World Wrestling Federation's SummerSlam event in the corner of Razor Ramon.

Image source: SummerSlam (1994)

Appears at WWF SummerSlam backing Razor Ramon

Purchases roundhouse in Aurora, Illinois

1995

In 1995, he and several partners purchased a roundhouse in Aurora, Illinois that had previously belonged to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. In 1999, the property received an award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Image source: Walter Payton

Purchases roundhouse in Aurora, Illinois

Announces diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis

Feb 1999

In February 1999, Payton announced that he had a rare liver disease known as primary sclerosing cholangitis. He struggled with the disease for several months.

Image source: Primary sclerosing cholangitis

Announces diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis

Throws ceremonial first pitch at Chicago Cubs game

Apr 1999

In April 1999, Payton made a final public appearance at a Chicago Cubs game with Mike Ditka and threw the game's ceremonial first pitch.

Image source: Chicago Cubs

Throws ceremonial first pitch at Chicago Cubs game

Joins investment group for Arena Football franchise in Chicago

Jul 1999

In July 1999, Payton was part of an investment group that secured an expansion Arena Football League franchise in Chicago, later known as the Chicago Rush.

Image source: Chicago Rush

Joins investment group for Arena Football franchise in Chicago

Dies of bile duct cancer at age 46

Nov 1, 1999

After struggling with the rare liver disease primary sclerosing cholangitis for several months, Payton died on November 1, 1999, from cholangiocarcinoma at the age of 46. In response, the City of Chicago inserted organ donation requests into city-vehicle-registration mailings in early 2000, and by August 2000, 13,000 people had signed on to the program. In 1999, the city also created a special city sticker featuring Payton.

Image source: Cholangiocarcinoma

Dies of bile duct cancer at age 46

Legacy and Honors

Inducted into Lincoln Academy of Illinois, receives Order of Lincoln

1987

Payton was inducted as a laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln by the governor of Illinois in 1987 in the area of sports.

Image source: The Lincoln Academy of Illinois

Inducted into Lincoln Academy of Illinois, receives Order of Lincoln

Receives Golden Plate Award

1988

In 1988, Payton received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.

Image source: American Academy of Achievement

Receives Golden Plate Award

Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame

1993

His jersey number was retired by the Bears, and he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame that same year.

Image source: Pro Football Hall of Fame

Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame

Named to NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

1994

Payton was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1994.

Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame

1996

Payton was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. That same year, the asteroid 85386 Payton was discovered by the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing observatory.

Image source: College Football Hall of Fame

Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame

Family establishes Walter Payton Cancer Fund

2002

The family established the Walter Payton Cancer Fund in 2002. Also that year, Walter Payton's Roundhouse continued to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors annually until its sale to Two Brothers Brewing in 2011.

Walter Payton Liver Center opens at UIC Medical Center

Sep 2007

In September 2007, the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center opened the Walter Payton Liver Center after a generous donation from Payton's family, who were pleased with the care he received there.

Image source: University of Illinois Chicago

Walter Payton Liver Center opens at UIC Medical Center

Asteroid 85386 Payton officially named

May 20, 2008

The asteroid 85386 Payton, discovered by the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing observatory in 1996, is named in Payton's memory. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on May 20, 2008.

Bears air special tribute video at halftime

Nov 1, 2009

The Chicago Bears honored Payton's career and life on November 1, 2009, by airing a special tribute video during halftime.

Image source: Chicago Bears

Bears air special tribute video at halftime

Named greatest player in NFL history by Neil Hornsby

2010

Pro Football Focus founder Neil Hornsby in 2010 named Payton as the greatest player in NFL history. LaDainian Tomlinson, who set numerous records during the 2006 NFL season, named Payton as one of his foremost mentors and inspirations.

Image source: Pro Football Focus

Named greatest player in NFL history by Neil Hornsby

Inducted into inaugural Black College Football Hall of Fame class

2010

Payton was posthumously inducted into the inaugural class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Image source: Black College Football Hall of Fame

Inducted into inaugural Black College Football Hall of Fame class

Statue dedicated outside Soldier Field

2019

A statue of Walter Payton accompanied by a plaque was dedicated in front of the south entrance to Soldier Field in 2019.

Image source: Soldier Field

Statue dedicated outside Soldier Field

Named to NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

2019

Payton was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019. That September, the Chicago Tribune also named him the greatest Bears player of all time. As of 2022, he is the NFL's second all-time leading rusher, and is ranked sixth in rushing touchdowns.

Key Facts

  1. Walter Payton played his entire 13-season NFL career (1975–1987) with the Chicago Bears.
  2. He retired as the NFL's all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards, a record later broken by Emmitt Smith.
  3. Payton helped lead the Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX in January 1986.
  4. He won the NFL Most Valuable Player award in 1977 and was selected to nine Pro Bowls.
  5. After his death in 1999, the NFL named its Man of the Year Award the 'Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award' in honor of his philanthropy and excellence on and off the field.

Source

This Walter Payton timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

Want a timeline like this one?

Generate yours with AI or build it from scratch, for free.

Try It for Free