Biography for
Walter Payton More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

25 July 1953, Columbia, Mississippi, USA

Date of Death

1 November 1999, South Barrington, Illinois, USA (primary sclerosing cholangitis)

Birth Name

Walter Jerry Payton

Nickname

Sweetness

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Mini Biography

Walter Payton, nicknamed "Sweetness, " is the NFL's all-time leading rusher. His playing career lasted from 1975 to 1987. In those years, he amassed 16,026 rushing yards. He made a few appearances on television (as a guest star), but he was known as a profoundly personal man.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous

Spouse

Connie Payton

(7 July 1976 - 1 November 1999) (his death) 2 children

Trivia

Running back for Chicago Bears football team: 7-time All-Pro selection; led Bears to their only Super Bowl championship, 1986. Also holds all-time rushing record for one game, 275 yards. Graduate of Jackson State University, Mississippi. Running back for the National Football League's Chicago Bears, 1975-1987. Retired as the NFL's [all-time] 2nd leader in rushing yards with 16,726 (now ranks behind Emmitt Smith who has 18,355 and broke Payton's record in 2004). Died at age 45 from a rare liver disease. Payton remains the [#1]#2 all-time rushing leader in pro football history, with 16,726 yards in his 13-year career. The accomplishment has been called "one of sport's most awesome records." Twice Most Valuable Player in the NFL; elected to the Hall of Fame, 1993. His former coach Mike Ditka said: "He's the best football player I've ever seen. At all positions, he's the best I've ever seen." Two children, Brittney and Jarrett (in 1999, also a running back, at Univ. of Miami). [1975-1987]

Appeared on "Soul Train" while in High School.

Was not allowed to play football until his junior year of high school.

Voted NFL Player of the Century.

Appeared on "Saturday Night Live" (1975) as a co-host with Joe Montana and did an impersonation of Michael Jackson.

Before death, he was a spokesperson for organ donation, even though an organ donation could have done nothing at that time to save his life.

One of the investors of the St. Louis Stallions NFL Expansion candidate in 1993.

When brother Eddie (who also played in the NFL) was asked how it felt to be the brother of a star, he replied, "I don't know. You better go ask Walter!"

Chicago Bears All-Time Rushing Leader (16,726 yards).

Ranks 2nd on NFL All-Time Rushing Attempts List (3,838).

Ranks 2nd on NFL All-Time Rushing Yardage List (16,726).

Ranks 93rd on NFL All-Time Rushing Average List (4.4).

Ranks 4th on NFL All-Time Rushing Touchdowns List (110).

Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 474-475. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Ranks 3rd on NFL All-Time All-Purpose Yards List (21,803).

Ranks 3rd on NFL All-Time Yards From Scrimmage List (21,264).

Ranks 84th on NFL All-Time Points Scored List (750).

Ranks 8th on NFL All-Time Rushing Yards per Game List (88).