NFL: 30 greatest seasons from players 30 and older
By Tommy Jaggi
player. 57. . RB. Chicago Bears. Walter Payton. 29
NFL: 30 greatest seasons from players 30 and older: 29. Walter Payton, 1985
It’s not every day that you see running backs who can start in the NFL for 13 years, and it’s equally as uncommon to see running backs who stay with one team during that entire time. Clearly, Walter Payton was not like most backs.
Though his career started all the way back in 1975, he was still making defenses pay over a decade later. In 1985, Payton was 31-years-old (which seems ancient for today’s NFL backs). However, despite the physicality of the game in the ’80s, Payton showed no signs of aging. In fact, he put up one of the best seasons ever for a running back over the age of 30.
Payton miraculously only missed time in one season from 1976 to 1986 – which no doubt contributed to his ability to dominate on the football field in his 30s. At the age of 31, Payton was shredding defenses like most running backs can only dream of doing in their 20s. In his 1985 season, he compiled 1,551 rushing yards on 324 runs and his 4.8 yards per carry was the second-best mark of his NFL career.
In addition, Payton chipped in 49 receptions and 483 receiving yards (nearly 10 yards per catch) and scored a combined 11 touchdowns. Despite playing in his 11th NFL season at a position that is known to wear down faster than any in the league, Payton earned first-team All-Pro honors and was one of the most valuable players in all of football.