This image captures Walter Payton scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 of the 1976 season. Payton rushed for 148 yards in the game and finished the year second in the NFL with 311 carries for 1,390 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. This play shows his second touchdown of the day—a 7-yard scoring run.
The NFC's top Runner in 1980 - Chicago's Walter Payton rushed for 1460 yards and 6 touchdowns and he averaged 4.6 yards-a-carry. Here he is featured in Pro Football Monthly's Who's Who in 1981.
Two big names from the 1980s NFL - Head Coach Mike Ditka and running back Walter Payton. From 1982 to 1992 Mike Ditka had 106 wins with the Bears and a Super Bowl win in 1985. Payton retired in 1987 as the NFL's All-Time Leading Rusher with 16,726 yards - a record that stood until 2002.
Walter Payton meets up with some guys from the Detroit Lions Defense in 1977. Payton rushed for league-high 1852 yards in 1977. That was the 3rd best single-season total yet in NFL history at the time. His 339 attempts, 5.5 YPA and 14 rushing touchdowns were best that season as well. The Lions here are Charlie Weaver (#59), Jim Laslavic (#52) and 13-year vet Larry Hand (#74).
The Chicago Bears backfield for much of the 1980s - Walter Payton and Matt Suhey.
Walter Payton behind fellow runner Matt Suhey. The two manned the Bears backfield together from 1981 till 1987 as Payton had 5 1000+ yard seasons in that time. Keep in mind the other two were strike years.
Bears great Walter Payton gets escapes from Lions defensive back James Hunter. In 13 seasons Payton rushed for over a thousand yards 10 times.
The Great Walter Payton - Was the NFL's All Time Leading rusher from 1984 to 2002 - 16726 yards. Also had a 4.4 lifetime rushing average and 110 rushing touchdowns.
In a 1984 games against the Saints, Walter Payton broke Jim Brown's rushing record of 12,312 yards. Payton finished his career in 1987 with 16,726 yards to his credit.
Set the NFL's All Time Career Rushing Yardage mark in 1984 with 16,726. He held that position until it was broken in 2002 by Emmitt Smith.
Wit Packers defensive players Johnnie Gray (#24) & Mike Butler (#77) close behind, Bears legend Walter Payton (#34) rips through the Green Bay defense in 1977.
Buccaneers great Lee Roy Selmon brings down Walter Payton as the Bears runner looses his grip on the football. From Bears-Bucs action in 1980.
All Packers linebacker Brian Noble (#91) can do is look on as Walter Payton (#34) breaks outside on Green Bay's defense.
The Bears offensive line opens up a huge hole for runner Walter Payton (#34) right through the middle of the 49ers defense.
The NFL's All-Time Leading Rusher from 1984 to 2002. Finished his career with 16,726 yards.
Bears Great - 16,726 yards, 110 Rushing Touchdowns
The NFL's best rushing team of the 1980s was the Chicago Bears. Altogether they totaled 23,321 rushing yards during that decade. Over half of those yards (12,442) were accounted for by the two men here - Walter Payton (#34) and fullback Matt Suhey (#26). They were together from 1980 to 1987.
Getting behind the blocking of 6'-6" 280 pound Mark Bortz.
All in all he ended up with 77 100+ yard rushing games - that ranks 2nd in the NFL record books.
Had 10 1000+ yard seasons from 1976 to 1986. The only season he didn't was the strike shortened year of 1982.
Sweetness - his nickname from his college days at Jackson State.
"Sweetness" goes airborne to score on the Minnesota Vikings defense. In his 13-year NFL career he scored a total of 125 touchdowns - 110 on the ground.
Harvey Martin leads a host of Cowboys as they try to stop Walter Payton of the Bears.
Gaining yards against the Rams.
