Walter Payton, the greatest player in Chicago Bears history, would’ve turned 70 today. Thinking about that really puts some things in perspective. The biggest is that we should show love for the ones we love while we still have them because you never know when someone will be gone too soon.
And, after that, my mind immediately goes to a place where I only want to share clips, highlights, and sizzle reels. Because legends can never die if we continue passing along their legacies.
- We’ll start with highlights via his son Jarrett Payton:
- For me, Payton’s greatness isn’t just about the dazzling runs, ankle-breaking jukes, or even the occasional touchdown pass. It is also about what he did against his stiffest competition. Beating the Green Bay Packers is on the wishlist of every Bears fan I know. And Payton did his best against Chicago’s arch nemesis from up north:
- Here is something I wrote about Walter Payton after the Bears announced him as the No. 1 player in team franchise history during their centennial celebration:
His running style was unique, skillset was unrivaled, and his drive was unmatched. Paytonโs numbers (16,726 rushing yards, 21,264 scrimmage yards, 125 rushing + receiving touchdowns, and 8 passing touchdowns) speak for themselves. But itโs the highlights that will leave you breathless.
- This is where I might say that they just don’t make ’em the way they used to in the olden days. But let’s face it, they never made ’em like Sweetness in the first place. That guy was 1 of 1. A true generational, once-in-a-lifetime talent.
- Drafting Walter Payton changed the Chicago Bears franchise trajectory:
- This quote best describes how much of a game-changer Sweetness was upon arrival:
“The Chicago Bears were a team that played notably off-key for many seasons until the dazzle of Walter Payton almost single-handedly carried them to the playoffs.”
- Fans of a certain age might remember Walter Payton as the author of the original “Flu Game” (sorry, MJ):
- Just when you thought Payton could do it all, you remember that he really cut a WWF promo with Razor Ramon:
- BONUS CLIP ALERT: More from Sweetness and the Bad Guy, which would’ve made an excellent tag team! You really blew it there, Vince McMahon.
- And as an additional bonus, how about this Walter Payton anecdote from Hall of Famer Jimbo Covert during his Hall of Fame speech:
NFL history has been littered with great players. And there will be more awesome ones who are coming down the pipeline in years to come. But there will never, e-e-e-ever be someone like Walter Payton. The best there is, the best there was, and quite possibly the best there ever will be among those to suit up for the Chicago Bears.