PAYTON, WALTER

born July 25, 1954, Columbia, Miss., U.S. died Nov. 1, 1999, Barrington, Ill. Walter Payton, 1987. in full Walter Jerry Payton, byname Sweetness American professional football player who set the standard of productivity and durability for running backs. Nicknamed Sweetness because of his affable personality, graceful athleticism, and high-pitched voice, Payton was beloved by athletes, sportswriters, and fans alike. Payton played football in high school and at Jackson State University, Mississippi, from which he graduated in 1975. That same year he was drafted by the National Football League (NFL) Chicago Bears. Payton played with the Bears until his retirement after the 1987 season, filling the position of halfback for most of that time. In his 12 years with the Bears, Payton came to be regarded as perhaps the greatest running back in the history of the game. He set the NFL records for total career rushing yardage (16,726 yards), most combined career yards gained (rushing and pass receiving, 21,803 yards), most seasons with 1,000 or more yards rushing (10), most yards gained in a single game (275 yards), most games with 100 or more yards gained in a career (77), and most career touchdowns earned by rushing (110). Besides being football's all-time leading rusher, Payton was a capable blocker, pass receiver, and even passer. He was best known, however, for his ability to elude tacklers, be it by high-stepping, stiff-arming, or literally leaping over them. His rigorous training regimen was the envy of athletes in and out of professional football, which doubtless contributed to his extraordinary durability; he started, for example, in more than 180 consecutive games in his career. Payton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. During his final year of life, while suffering from a rare liver disease, Payton was credited with rejuvenating national interest in organ donation.