Walter Payton was born on the 29th July 1954 in Columbia, Mississippi USA, and was a professional American Football player who represented the Chicago Bears in the NFL for his entire career from 1975 to 1987. One of the greatest running backs in the history, Payton held numerous records including the league’s record for most career rushing yards, carries, all-purpose yards, touchdowns, yards from scrimmage and many more. He was a Super Bowl XX champion, a nine-time Pro-Bowler, the MVP of the league in 1977 and 1985, and NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1977. Payton has been a Hall of Famer since 1993. Chicago Bears had his number 34 retired in 2010. Walter passed away in November 1999.
Have you ever wondered how rich Walter Payton was? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Walter Payton’s net worth is as high as $3 million, with the main source of his wealth being his footballing skills, as the contracts he signed with professional clubs generated millions into his bank account.
Walter Payton Net Worth $3 Million
Walter Jerry Payton was one of three children of Alyne Payton, and Peter, a former semi-professional baseball player. Walter developed a love for music from an early age, playing drums in the marching band and singing in the school’s choir. He had attended John J. Jefferson High School before it integrated with Columbia High School during his junior year. His brother Eddie played in a football team, and Walter didn’t want to compete with him but started to play when Eddie matriculated, actually very successfully, and his talents showcased from the first time he carried the ball, as he recorded 65 yards for a touchdown.
Payton was one of the hottest running backs in the country, but he didn’t receive an invitation from a reputable southern university because of segregation, so he joined the Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi in 1971. Walter scored 65 touchdowns throughout his college career, and even scored seven touchdowns in one game in 1972. The Chicago Bears selected him as the 4th pick overall in the 1975 NFL Draft.
Walter’s rookie season wasn’t impressive; he recorded 679 yards and seven touchdowns but excelled in kick-off return yards in which he led the league. His sophomore year was way better, rushing for 1,390 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns, and being selected to his first Pro Bowl after the season. His third year was the best in his career; as Walter recorded 1,852 yards and scored 16 touchdowns, so winning the MVP title that year, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, plus breaking O.J. Simpson’s record for rushing yards in a game (273) with 275 yards. (Adrian Peterson has held the record since 2007 with 296.) The next four seasons were solid for Payton as he recorded 1,000 rushing yards in every one of them, but the Bears failed to reach the Super Bowl. In 1982, Payton had only 596 yards and one touchdown and played only nine games because of the players strike.
Mike Ditka became the head coach in 1982, and he led the Bears to an 8-8 record in 1983 and 10-6 in 1984. Walter rushed for more than 1,400 yards in both seasons and even broke Jim Brown’s record for 12,312 rushing yards during the game against New Orleans Saints. Payton and the Bears won the Super Bowl XX in 1985 after having an almost perfect 15-1 season and beating New England Patriots 46-10 in the final. In his last two seasons the Bears failed to reach the second round of the playoffs after the Washington Redskins defeated them on both occasions.
Regarding his personal life, Walter Payton was married to Connie Norwood from 1976 and they had two children; Jarret (born in 1980), and Brittney (born in 1985). Walter announced that he was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune liver disease in February 1999, and he died due to the complications in November that year. Payton spread the awareness for organ donations before his death, and his family established the Walter Payton Cancer Fund in 2002. The “Walter Payton Man of the Year” award is awarded by the NFL annually for player achievements in community service. He will always be remembered as the “Sweetness”.
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