“When you’re good at something, you’ll tell everyone. When you’re great at something, they’ll tell you.”
There are athletes that transcend sports. Those that made a significant impact on the field that even decades later is still felt today.
Walter Payton was that athlete.
It’s hard to believe, but it’s already been 20 years since Payton passed away on Nov. 1, 1999 of bile duct cancer and liver failure. He was 45 years old.
Payton, who is not only one of the best running backs but players to play in the NFL, held the all-time rushing record with 16,726 yards until it was broken by Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith in 2002.
Payton also helped lead the Bears to their only Super Bowl title in 1985.
But Payton was so much more than his accomplishments on the field. While he was one of the most graceful players to ever play on the gridiron, he forever changed what it meant to be an athlete that contributed to his city.
It’s a legacy that lives on in the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which is presented to an NFL athlete that has displayed excellence both on and off the field.
On the 20th anniversary of Payton’s death, here’s how some are remembering the man that only needed one name: Sweetness.
.jpg?w=600)
