OPPapers.com

Walter Payton

It is a popular adage that there are only two certain things in life-death and taxes. But for the last decade or so in the National Football League, there has been another sure thing-as soon as he was eligible in 1993, Walter Payton was destined to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That is exactly what happened in January, 1993. All that remains was the exclamation point on his spectacular career-enshrinement day on July 31, 1993, when Payton and four other members of the Class of 1993 received pro football's highest honor.

In 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1987, Payton literally rewrote the NFL record book with his ball-carrying feats. He rushed 3,838 times for 16,726 yards and 110 touchdowns-all records. He also caught 492 passes for 4,538 yards and 15 more touchdowns. Altogether, he scored 125 touchdowns, second most ever, and he accounted for a record 21,803 combined net yards.

Payton rushed for an all time high 275 yards against the Minnesota Vikings on November 20,1977. He rushed for more than 100 yards a stunning 77 times. He won the NFL kickoff return championship as a rookie. He even completed 11 out of 34 passes for 331 yards and eight touchdowns. No other running back has even remotely threatened Payton's overall production.

Ironically, Payton's exceptional rushing statistics tend to obscure the fact that he was an exceptional all-round football player, arguably the best who ever lived. He was blessed with a wide variety of athletic skills and he put them all to good use during his NFL career.

"He is a complete football player," Jim Finks, the former Chicago Bears general manager who drafted Payton, said. "He is better than Jim Brown. He is better than O.J. Simpson."

Payton prided himself on his blocking ability. When he talks about career highlights, one of his fondest memories drifts back to 1985 when he intercepted a blitzing Minnesota linebacker to make it possible for Jim McMahon to throw a crucial...