History of Walter Payton in Timeline
Walter Payton, nicknamed "Sweetness," was a legendary NFL running back who played 13 seasons for the Chicago Bears. Widely considered one of the greatest football players ever, Payton was known for his remarkable versatility, durability, and graceful running style. He set numerous NFL records during his career, including the all-time rushing record, and led the Bears to a Super Bowl XX victory. Payton's impact extended beyond the field through his charitable work and beloved personality.
July 25, 1953: Walter Payton's Birth
Walter Jerry Payton was born on July 25, 1953. He later became a professional football running back for the Chicago Bears.
1953: Walter Payton's Year of Birth
Walter Payton was born in Columbia, Mississippi in 1953. His parents were Peter and Alyne Payton.
July 25, 1954: Incorrect Date of Birth
Throughout his life, Walter Payton claimed his date of birth as July 25, 1954. This date was later discovered to be incorrect; his true birth date was July 25, 1953.
1954: Disputed Year of Birth
In 1954, many sources erroneously stated that Walter Payton was born in this year, though his actual birth year was 1953.
September 23, 1972: Sets SWAC Single-Game Scoring Record
On September 23, 1972, Walter Payton set a SWAC single-game scoring record by rushing for seven touchdowns and two 2-point conversions for 46 points as Jackson State beat Lane College, 72–0. He also set a school record with 279 rushing yards.
1972: Gale Sayers Retirement
In 1972, the iconic Gale Sayers retired, after which the Chicago Bears endured several losing seasons before Payton joined.
1973: Named Black College Player of the Year
In 1973, Payton was named Black College Player of the Year and had a school record of 24 rushing touchdowns as a member of the Jackson State Tigers.
1974: Wins Black College Player of the Year Again and Selected for All-American Team
In 1974, Payton won the Black College Player of the Year award again and was selected for the All-American Team while playing for Jackson State.
1975: Payton's First Season with the Bears
In 1975, Payton was drafted by the Chicago Bears and began his NFL career. He finished the season with 679 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, and led the league in yards per kickoff return.
1975: Graduation and Draft
In 1975, Walter Payton graduated from Jackson State with a bachelor's degree in communications. He was also drafted into the NFL by the Chicago Bears that year.
1975: Payton Drafted by the Chicago Bears
In 1975, Walter Payton started his professional career with the Chicago Bears after being selected as the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft.
1976: Payton Rushes for 1,390 Yards
During the 1976 season, Payton rushed for 1,390 yards and scored 13 touchdowns, showing significant improvement in his performance.
1976: Marriage to Connie Norwood
In 1976, Walter Payton married Connie Norwood, marking an important personal relationship in his life.
1977: Record-Setting Game Against the Vikings
During the 1977 season, in a game against the Minnesota Vikings, Walter Payton rushed for a then-record 275 yards while battling a 101-degree fever.
1977: Payton Wins AP NFL MVP Award
In 1977, Payton won the AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award, marking a significant achievement in his career.
1978: Death of Walter Payton's Father
In 1978, Walter Payton's father died in jail shortly after being wrongly accused of driving under the influence due to suffering a stroke.
1980: Birth of Son, Jarrett Payton
In 1980, Walter Payton and his wife Connie welcomed their son, Jarrett Payton.
1982: Mike Ditka Becomes Bears' Coach
In 1982, Mike Ditka replaced Neill Armstrong as the coach of the Chicago Bears, leading the team to a 3–6 record in a strike-shortened season.
1983: Arthroscopic Surgery on Both Knees
In 1983, Walter Payton underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees, which he referred to as an 11,000-yard checkup.
1983: Bears Finish with 8-8 Record
In 1983, under Mike Ditka's leadership, the Chicago Bears finished the season with an 8–8 record, with Payton rushing for more than 1,400 yards.
September 19, 1984: Payton Becomes Active Leader in Career Rushing Yards
On September 19, 1984, Walter Payton surpassed Franco Harris to become the active leader in career rushing yards.
October 7, 1984: Payton Breaks Jim Brown's Career Rushing Record
On October 7, 1984, Walter Payton broke Jim Brown's career rushing record of 12,312 yards against the New Orleans Saints.
1984: Payton's Record-Breaking Season
In 1984, Payton rushed for more than 1,400 yards. On September 19, 1984, he passed Franco Harris as the active leader in career rushing yards, and on October 7, 1984, he broke Jim Brown's career rushing record of 12,312 yards.
1985: Birth of Daughter, Brittney Payton
In 1985, Walter Payton and his wife Connie welcomed their daughter, Brittney Payton.
1985: Super Bowl Shuffle and Super Bowl XX Victory
In 1985, Walter Payton performed with his teammates in "The Super Bowl Shuffle" music video. The Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX with a 46–10 victory over the New England Patriots.
1985: Payton Rushes for over 1,500 Yards; Bears Establish Strong Offense and Defense
In 1985, Walter Payton rushed for more than 1,500 yards, contributing to the Chicago Bears establishing one of the league's best offenses. The Bears' defense also became one of the best in NFL history.
1985: Payton Wins Super Bowl XX
In 1985, Walter Payton won Super Bowl XX with the Chicago Bears, a major triumph in his NFL career.
1986: 1,333 Yards and NFC Central Division Win
In the 1986 season, Payton amassed 1,333 rushing yards and helped the Bears win the NFC Central Division, although they lost in the divisional round of the playoffs.
1987: Retirement Announcement and Final Season
At the end of the 1986 season, Payton announced that he would retire after the 1987 season. In his last season, he rushed for a career-low 533 yards.
1987: Payton Retires from Football
At the end of the 1987 season, Payton retired from professional football after 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears.
1987: Saturday Night Live Appearance and Charity Special
In 1987, Walter Payton appeared on an episode of Saturday Night Live and participated in Prince Edward of the United Kingdom's charity television special, The Grand Knockout Tournament.
January 10, 1988: Payton's Career Ends with Playoff Loss
On January 10, 1988, Walter Payton's career ended with another loss to the Washington Redskins in the divisional round of the playoffs.
1988: Accidental Shooting at Nightclub
In 1988, Walter Payton accidentally shot a manager at his nightclub in Schaumburg, Illinois. Payton, unaware that his newly acquired 9 mm French-made Manurhin Pistolet was loaded, was present when a third party handed him the gun, causing it to discharge and injure the nightclub manager, Elmer Ray Hutson Jr., in the knee.
1988: Receives Golden Plate Award
In 1988, Walter Payton received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement, recognizing his accomplishments.
1993: Trans-Am Series Incident
In 1993, Payton participated in a Trans-Am Series race at Road America, where his car overturned and caught fire, causing him to suffer burns but escape serious injury.
1993: Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame
In 1993, Payton was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing his outstanding career achievements.
1993: Induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
In 1993, Walter Payton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, marking his legacy as one of the greatest players in NFL history. His jersey number was also retired by the Chicago Bears.
1993: Co-founded Walter Payton Power Equipment
In 1993, Walter Payton, along with Mike Lanigan, co-founded Walter Payton Power Equipment, a midwest crane and heavy equipment distributor.
1994: World Wrestling Federation's SummerSlam Appearance
In 1994, Walter Payton made an appearance at the World Wrestling Federation's SummerSlam event, standing in the corner of Razor Ramon.
1994: Named to NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
In 1994, Walter Payton was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, honoring him as one of the greatest players in NFL history.
1995: Rams Move to St. Louis
In 1995, St. Louis eventually received an NFL team when the Los Angeles Rams relocated to the city.
1996: Rushing Touchdown Record Broken
During the 1996 NFL season, Marcus Allen surpassed Walter Payton's record for rushing touchdowns.
1996: Elected to College Football Hall of Fame
In 1996, Payton was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, adding to his list of accolades.
February 1999: Diagnosis of Rare Liver Disease
In February 1999, Walter Payton announced that he had primary sclerosing cholangitis, a rare liver disease. Following the diagnosis, he became an advocate for organ transplants.
April 1999: Final Public Appearance at Cubs Game
In April 1999, Walter Payton made his final public appearance at a Chicago Cubs game with Mike Ditka, where he threw the ceremonial first pitch.
November 1, 1999: Walter Payton's Death
Walter Jerry Payton, nicknamed "Sweetness", died on November 1, 1999. He was a celebrated figure in American professional football.
1999: Award from National Trust for Historic Preservation
In 1999, Walter Payton's Roundhouse received an award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
August 2000: Chicago Implements Organ Donation Requests in Vehicle Registration
In August 2000, the City of Chicago began including organ donation requests in city-vehicle-registration mailings, following Walter Payton's appeals for greater awareness. By this time, 13,000 people had already signed on to the program.
October 22, 2000: Payton's Record Broken by Corey Dillon
On October 22, 2000, Corey Dillon of the Cincinnati Bengals broke Walter Payton's 23-year-old record by rushing for 278 yards.
2000: Single Game Rushing Record Broken
During the 2000 NFL season, Corey Dillon broke Walter Payton's single game rushing record.
2002: Establishment of Walter Payton Cancer Fund
In 2002, the Walter Payton family established the Walter Payton Cancer Fund to further support cancer research and treatment initiatives.
2002: Payton's Rushing Yards Record Broken
Prior to the 2002 NFL season, Walter Payton was the NFL's all-time leader in rushing yards and all-purpose yards, but Emmitt Smith broke his record that year.
2006: LaDainian Tomlinson Mentions Payton as Inspiration
During the 2006 NFL season, LaDainian Tomlinson, who set numerous records, cited Walter Payton as one of his foremost mentors and inspirations.
2007: Adrian Peterson Sets Current Rushing Record
In 2007, Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings set the current record for rushing yards in a single game with 296 yards.
May 20, 2008: Asteroid Named in Payton's Memory
On May 20, 2008, the Minor Planet Center officially published the naming citation for the asteroid 85386 Payton, which was discovered in 1996. The asteroid was named in Walter Payton's memory.
November 1, 2009: Special Tribute Video Aired by Chicago Bears
On November 1, 2009, the Chicago Bears honored Walter Payton's career and life by airing a special tribute video during halftime, featuring highlights from his career and interviews with key figures. Payton's family was present to watch the video on Soldier Field's Jumbotron.
2009: Jarrett Payton's Wedding Date
In 2009, Walter Payton's son, Jarrett Payton, intentionally set his wedding date to March 4 (3/4) to coincide with his father's jersey number.
2010: Named Greatest Player in NFL History
In 2010, Neil Hornsby, the founder of Pro Football Focus, named Walter Payton as the greatest player in NFL history.
2010: Posthumously Inducted into Black College Football Hall of Fame
In 2010, Walter Payton was posthumously inducted into the inaugural class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
September 2019: Named Greatest Bears Player of All Time
In September 2019, the Chicago Tribune declared Walter Payton as the greatest Bears player of all time, solidifying his legacy within the team's history.
2019: Named to NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
In 2019, Walter Payton was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, reaffirming his legendary status in the league.
2019: Statue Dedicated at Soldier Field
In 2019, a statue of Walter Payton, accompanied by a plaque, was dedicated in front of the south entrance to Soldier Field.
2022: NFL's Second All-Time Leading Rusher
As of 2022, Walter Payton is the NFL's second all-time leading rusher, showcasing his enduring impact on the sport.
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