On November 1, 1999, <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/05/nfl-justin-reid-arrives-in-kansas-city-tyrann-mathieu-on-his-departure/" title="NFL: Justin Reid arrives in Kansas City; Tyrann Mathieu on his departure?”>Walter Payton‘s life ended. He achieved great things on the field, but what made him an icon happened away from the big stage.
Walter Payton may be the best running back in NFL history. MVP, Super Bowl champion, nine-time Pro Bowl and of course a member of the Hall of Fame. He ran for an incredible 16,726 yards in 13 seasons for the Chicago Bears and was known for not avoiding any hit, no matter how hard. When he retired, he held 13 NFL records.
But his legacy goes far beyond sport – also because his life ended tragically and far too early.
“You hear stories about how he would bring families together on Sundays to watch him play and how much joy he brought to people through the game,” Payton’s son Jarrett once said. People would regularly burst into tears when they found out that they were talking to the offspring of their great hero.
Payton: “When I’m done with Chicago, they’ll love me”
Walter Payton, who grew up in humble circumstances in Columbia, Mississippi, was drafted fourth in the NFL by the Chicago Bears in 1975 – and had big plans. “When I’m done with Chicago, they’ll love me,” he once announced and was impressively right.
During his time with the Bears – he never played for another club until the end of his career in 1987 – he only missed one game and set record after record. But what made him an absolute icon was Payton’s commitment away from the football field.
Impact far beyond the NFL
While still active, he founded his own foundation, the Walter and Connie (his wife’s name) Payton Foundation, which supports the needy and repeatedly anonymously donated thousands of dollars and toys to disadvantaged children in Chicago.
“My dad gave gifts for a long time and they didn’t know where it came from,” Jarrett said. “He did it out of the goodness of his heart because he could help young children,” remembers son Jarrett, who was also a professional football player.
Almost logically, the NFL named one of its most prestigious awards after him after his death. The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award honors players who achieve outstanding achievements both athletically and socially. The winner will receive $250,000, which will go to a nonprofit organization of their choice.
The winners include well-known stars such as Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson, Eli and Peyton Manning and Dan Marino.
“It’s crazy how important the Man of the Year Award is now. A lot of these guys in the NFL have their own foundations and give back to their communities, and they also help keep my dad’s legacy alive,” Jarrett Payton said.
Marked by a terrible illness
His work and his distinctive running style on the field, which was characterized by powerful jumps and smooth evasive maneuvers, earned Walter Payton the nickname “Sweetness” and when he died on November 1, 1999, the USA fell into deep mourning.
Payton suffered from primary sclerosing cholangitis, a rare liver disease that progresses to fatal liver cirrhosis in the final stages.
In February, almost nine months before his death and already badly affected by his chemotherapy, he spoke publicly for the first time about his devastating diagnosis.
“Fate is no longer in my hands, but in those of God,” he said at the time, admitting that he was afraid of death.
The USA mourns – Michael Jordan bows
When Payton’s liver finally gave up, it tore the hearts of millions of fans around the world. “He was the greatest of all the running backs. “He will be deeply missed by the people of Chicago and all Americans who love football,” said then-President Bill Clinton.
Basketball superstar Michael Jordan, probably the most famous athlete that Chicago has ever produced in professional sports, also took a bow.
“Walter was an icon in Chicago before I came. He was a great athlete on the field, his achievements speak for themselves,” said Jordan when he learned of his friend’s death.
Payton left behind many broken hearts, but also a valuable exploration of a difficult subject.
The passing of the sports legend sparked a national debate in the USA about organ donation and raised awareness for life-saving transplants, which Payton had hoped for in vain until the end.
“His heart was always in the right place”
But his legacy continues. To this day, the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation continues to collect toys for Chicago’s poorest children every year, “providing them the opportunity they need to live their lives with dignity and pride.”
That should be in the best spirit of Walter Payton, whom his long-time coach Mik Ditka described after his death as “the best football player I have ever seen and probably one of the best people I have ever met”.
Or as his son Jarrett put it: “When you think of the nickname ‘Sweetness,’ that’s exactly what he was all about. That nickname suited him so well because his heart was always in the right place.”
