Chicago Bears: 15 greatest running backs of all time
By Ryan Heckman
(1975-1987). Walter Payton. 1. player. 57. . RB
Was there ever any doubt? Of course, Walter Payton is No. 1. He is arguably the greatest running back in NFL history, and without a doubt the best in Bears history.
Where does one even begin when trying to describe how great Payton was? A good starting point might be that he has an NFL award named after him.
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The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is handed out each season to a player for their time and effort put in off the field to make this world a better place. Payton certainly loved his community and the kids within it.
When you have an award named after you, that’s huge. But, the premise behind the award going to the league’s best “man” speaks volumes around how good of a person and sincere a heart Payton had.
As the league’s second-all time leading rusher, Payton finished his career with 16,726 yards on the ground and 110 rushing touchdowns. The man was unstoppable.
He had everything: Vision, patience, grit, toughness, quickness, athleticism — all of that to go with one of the most unorthodox holds on the ball. Payton made the one-handed, pointed carry famous, while still finding a way to hold onto the ball.
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Not only was he a great running back, but he could catch the ball. Payton finished with 492 career receptions for 4,538 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns. To finish an NFL career with over 21,000 career yards from scrimmage and 125 touchdowns is certainly something special. We’ll likely never see another like “Sweetness.”