Rare Photos of Walter Payton

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Sep 28, 2011

Rare Photos of Walter Payton

Walter Payton

There are may not have been a more versatile athlete in league history. Payton rushed for 16,726 yards (second most all-time), caught 492 passes, threw for eight touchdowns and often punished defenders with his blocking.

Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Walter Payton

While at Jackson State University, Walter Payton broke the NCAA scoring record with 65 career touchdowns. Here, Payton shakes hands with Tennessee State defensive tackle Ed "Too Tall" Jones in 1973. The two were selected to head the first black college All-America football team.

Eddie and Walter Payton

Paul Tepley Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images

Cleveland Browns running back Eddie Payton (left) meets with his younger brother, Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton, following a preseason game on Aug. 25, 1977 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Eddie mostly returned kicks and punts during his five years in the NFL.

Walter Payton and Doug Buffone

Walter Payton has a big grin as he is introduced by teammate, linebacker Doug Buffone, during a press conference on Oct. 31, 1977 in Chicago. Payton rushed for 205 yards the day before against the Green Bay Packer Packers, which equalled Gale Sayers' one-game record with the Bears.

Walter Payton and Doug Buffone

Walter Payton jogs down the street in Chicago with his teammate, Bears linebacker Doug Buffone, following a press conference on Oct. 31, 1977.

Walter and Connie Payton

Payton and his wife, Connie, take a turn on the dance floor for a 1979 NBC special called "Super Bowl Saturday Night." The couple founded the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation in 1988 to help neglected, abused and underprivileged children.

Muhammad Ali and Walter Payton

Payton grabs a playful punch from world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, who received the Humanitarian of the Year award from the Coalition for Community Action in April 1979. The Chicago Bears great was also known for his humanitarian work. After his death, the NFL Man of the Year Award, which Payton won in 1977, was renamed the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

Walter Payton

Walter Payton stands in a tunnel before a game in 1980.

Mike McCaskey and Walter Payton

Bears president Mike McCaskey smiles at a press conference announcing Payton's three-year contract extension on May 8, 1984. Payton played his entire career in Chicago and rushed for a career high 1,684 yards the year he signed the extension.

Walter, Connie and Jarrett Payton

1984-Walter-Payton-wfe-Connie-son-Jarrett-001310623.jpg — Heinz Kluetmeier

Walter Payton poses with his wife Connie and son Jarrett at their home in Chicago on June 12, 1984.

Eddie, Alyne and Walter Payton

Walter Payton poses with his brother Eddie (left) and mother Alyne in his trophy room at home in Chicago on June 12, 1984.

Walter Payton

Walter Payton poses outside his home in Chicago on June 12, 1984.

Walter Payton

Walter Payton sits alone in a canoe on July 3, 1984 in Lake Forest, Ill.

Walter Payton, Gary Fencik, Matt Suhey and Rick Telander

Sports Illustrated associate writer Rick Telander (right) stands in his backyard with Chicago Bears Walter Payton, Gary Fencik and Matt Suhey on Sept. 15, 1984 in Lake Forest, Ill.

Walter Payton

Walter Payton twirls the ball on his fingertips during a game against the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 7, 1984. Payton broke Jim Brown's rushing record during the game.

Walter Payton

"He was a great warrior," Jim Brown said. "If a guy runs out of bounds because a corner is coming up to get him, that's not my kind of guy. Walter was definitely (my kind of player) because he was a power man. Give me the heart of Walter Payton ... there's never been a greater heart."

Walter Payton

Walter Payton lunges over defenders for a first down against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 18, 1984.

Walter Payton and Ron Rivera

Walter Payton and Ron Rivera congratulate one another during the Chicago Bears 44-0 rout of the Dallas Cowboys on Nov 17, 1985 at Texas Stadium, in Irving, Texas

Walter Payton

Payton holds the trophy for 1985 Black Athlete of the Year.

Walter Payton and Goldie Hawn

Payton receives a T-shirt from actress Goldie Hawn at the Touchdown Club dinner on Jan. 18, 1986. Hawn would also present Payton with the NFC Player of the Year Award for his 1,551 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in leading the Bears to a Super Bowl XX victory.

Jim McMahon and Walter Payton

Bears quarterback Jim McMahon puts his arm around teammate Walter Payton on the sidelines during Super Bowl XX in New Orleans on Jan. 26, 1986. Chicago dominated New England 46-10.

Walter Payton

In 1986, Payton and the Bears played the Cowboys in London's Wembley Stadium. Payton points the way to the buses after arriving in England.

Phil Collins and Walter Payton

Even singer Phil Collins wanted some "Sweetness" memorabilia. Collins, with his son Simon, receives an autograph from Payton before the 1986 Bears-Cowboys regular season contest dubbed the "American Bowl."

Walter Payton

Not only was 1987 Payton's final NFL season, but also the year he portrayed The King of Pop on "Saturday Night Live." This skit was titled "The Michael Jackson Workout Tape."

Ed McCaskey, Virginia McCaskey, Eugene Sawyer and Walter Payton

1987-Walter-Payton-Ed-Virginia-McCaskey-Eugene-Sawyer.jpg — AP

Team owners Ed and Virginia McCaskey, along with Chicago Mayor Eugene Sawyer (second from right), present Payton with a portrait before his final home game on Dec. 20, 1987. Payton's number is one of 14 the Bears have now retired.

Patrick Ewing and Walter Payton

Payton uses a hands-on defense against the Knicks' Patrick Ewing during a celebrity game at the Budweiser 3-on-3 Basketball Challenge in Chicago on July 9, 1988.

Tony Dorsett and Walter Payton

John Prieto/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Payton interviews fellow future Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett in Denver on Sept. 21, 1988. Dorsett's one season with the Broncos would be his final season in the NFL.

Chuck Norris and Walter Payton

Chuck Norris, Walter Payton and throttle man Eddie Morenz prepare to depart from Chicago’s Navy Pier on a 605-mile speed boat trip across Lakes Michigan and Huron in Chicago on July 27, 1989. The team hoped but failed to break a 1987 speed record for the trip to Detroit while raising funds for the United Way.

George H.W. Bush, Walter and Jarrett Payton

U.S. President George H.W. Bush points out White House renovations to his guests, including Walter Payton and his son Jarrett on June 22, 1990 in Washington, D.C.

Walter Payton

Payton gets into his car before a race on July 24, 1993 at Lime Rock Park, Conn.

Walter Payton

Payton shows off his Super Bowl ring during halftime of a Bears game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 26, 1993.

Walter Payton and Mike Ditka

Walter Payton greets his former coach Mike Ditka, now the coach of the New Orleans Saints, during pre-game warmups before the Saints-Bears game on Aug. 22, 1997 in Chicago.

Walter Payton

Payton gets choked up during a press conference announcing to the public for the first time that he is sick with bile duct cancer on Feb. 2, 1999 in Chicago.

Chicago Bears players lay roses in front of a picture of Walter Payton as they leave a memorial service for the former football great on Nov. 6, 1999 in Chicago. Payton died five days earlier at age 45.