Chicago Bears: Remembering Walter Payton on his 68th birthday

On what would have been his 68th birthday, Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton’s impact on the city and legacy remains more prominent than ever.

In 1975, the Chicago Bears used the fourth overall pick on a running pack from little-known Jackson State in Mississippi; his name was Walter Payton. His first game featured a stat line of zero yards on eight carries—a bad first impression.

16,726 rushing yards and 110 rushing touchdowns later, Payton stands as the 2nd all-time leading rusher in league history, behind only Emmitt Smith.

It would also be criminal not to mention how Payton was a pivotal part of the only Super Bowl trophy that resides in Chicago, even though it could be considered sad that Payton did not score in that game.

Nonetheless, the man known affectionately as “Sweetness” still resides in the hearts of Chicago Bears fans on what would have been his 68th birthday.

Unfortunately, he is no longer with us, but #34 left an impact on not only the city he played for but the game as a whole.

Every year, the Walter Payton Man of the Year trophy is awarded to the player for excellent play on the field and tremendous work of commitment to philanthropy and community impact, signifying his place in NFL history.

In 2013, defensive back Charles Tillman won the award, bringing the honor back to Chicago for the first time since Jim Flanigan in 2000. Tillman’s words about Payton ring true to this day.

Walter Payton’s legacy will never be forgotten, and his name will forever be synonymous with NFL greatness.

Sadly, in 1999, Walter Payton passed at the young age of 45. A crushing blow to the Chicago Bears, who went out the next game after he passed, November 7, 1999, and honored his name by beating the rival Packers 14-13.

Yet, suppose we genuinely see what Payton meant to the city of Chicago. In that case, we will know, at least for a little, about how one man revolutionized a town and gave them credibility when for much of his tenure, Chicago was essentially a team that wasn’t among the most successful.

After Gale Sayers departed, the Bears had a massive hole in their backfield, and with average to below average quarterback play, Payton was, frankly, a one-man show in the Bears backfield. His efforts were rewarded by appearances on the 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Though many wished he, not William Perry, scored a rushing touchdown in Super Bowl XX, Payton had as much to do with that season as the members of the famed 46 defense.

He may not be here anymore, but he is a revered figure and will never be forgotten. God bless Walter Payton, and somewhere, Sweetness is cracking a smile.