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Chicago Bears: Top 10 draft picks in franchise history

By Carlos Nazario

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images /
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F365372 02: Former Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton, who died in November, 1999, is featured on a commemorative box of Wheaties breakfast cereal in a Des Plaines, Illinois grocery store, February 29, 2000. Voted one of the all-time Wheaties champions, Payton is featured on the cereal box for the eighth time, second only to Michael Jordan. (Photo by Tim Boyle)
F365372 02: Former Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton, who died in November, 1999, is featured on a commemorative box of Wheaties breakfast cereal in a Des Plaines, Illinois grocery store, February 29, 2000. Voted one of the all-time Wheaties champions, Payton is featured on the cereal box for the eighth time, second only to Michael Jordan. (Photo by Tim Boyle) /

1. Walter Payton, Running Back: First Round, No. 4 Overall, 1975

When it comes to any “best of” list concerning the Chicago Bears, who else should be at the top but Sweetness, Walter Payton.

Payton is the best Bear of all time, no question about it. Yes, he was the fourth overall pick so he should’ve been great. Whatever the expectations, Payton went above and beyond them. He was a great player, probably the greatest running back ever. What Gayle Sayers started as a receiving back Payton perfected. All these pass catchers out of the backfield have Sweetness to thank. He took the pass-catching running back from being a gimmick to being an integral part of the offense.

In addition to being a great player, Payton was a great person. There wasn’t anyone involved in the NFL who didn’t love him. He had the perfect nickname. Whatever happened, he always had his trademark smile. Even in his greatest career disappointment, not scoring a touchdown in the Super Bowl, he went out and did his interviews without a hint of negativity.

Payton’s personality and his dedication to giving were so great that the NFL named an award for humanitarianism after him.

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I can go on and on about Payton’s nine appearances in the Pro Bowl or him being a sevn-time First Team All-Pro or his MVP award or his rushing titles or the fact that he was named to not only one but two All-Decade teams (1970’s and 1980’s). None of that truly describes what Payton meant or still means to the Chicago Bears and their fans. You cannot separate the Bears from Payton or Payton from the Bears.

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