Near South Side in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Walter Payton

July 25, 1953 - November 1, 1999

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. Walter Payton Marker

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Walter Payton could run through a defender. He could stutter-step past one. He could leap over a pile of them. He gained more rushing yards in more ways than anyone. , , He could wear down a defense. Even on a day when Payton was experiencing flu symptoms, he ran the ball 40 times for 275 yards to set an NFL record. Either he never felt fatigue, or he disguised it without a hint. , , Payton could win in the passing game, too. During the 13 years he played, only nine men had more receptions than his 492. Five of them are Hall of Fame wide receivers, and two of them are Hall of Fame tight ends. Payton also was an emergency quarterback who found himself on the originating end of 34 passes. He threw for eight touchdowns. , , He could beat you on special teams. Payton led the NFL with a 31.7-yard kickoff return average as a rookie. And he punted once, for 39 yards. , , Payton was selected by the Bears with the fourth pick in the 1975 draft out of Jackson State. On the day he was drafted, he told reporters: "When I get through with Chicago, they'll be loving me." That prediction came to fruition, and it remains the case decades after "Sweetness" retired in 1987. , , Payton is widely considered the best player in Bears history and among the top running backs of all time. He spent his entire NFL career with the Bears, missing just one game and retiring as the league's all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards. He was voted to nine Pro Bowls-second to Mike Singletary's 10 in Bears history-set 27 Bears records and had his No. 34 retired. , , "When God said he would make a halfback or a fullback, he might have said Gale Sayers or he might have said Jim Brown," Mike Ditka said. "But when he said he would make the best football player who ever lived, he probably said two men-Jim Thorpe and Walter Payton." , , Hall of Fame coach and longtime TV commentator John Madden said he thought Payton was the greatest football player in history. He said every player in the league should be given a video or book that detailed Payton's approach to the game. , , With rare commitment and competitiveness, Payton raised the bar for every group of men he went to battle with. As much as anyone, Payton defined what a Bear is supposed to be. , , "I'm a person who is willing to give his all," Payton said. "That's how I want to be remembered."

Walter Payton could run through a defender. He could stutter-step past one. He could leap over a pile of them. He gained more rushing yards in more ways than anyone.

He could wear down a defense. Even on a day when Payton was experiencing flu symptoms, he ran the ball 40 times for 275 yards to set an NFL record. Either he never felt fatigue, or he disguised it without a hint.

Payton could win in the passing game, too. During the 13 years he played, only nine men had more receptions than his 492. Five of them are Hall of Fame wide receivers, and two of them are Hall of Fame tight ends. Payton also was an emergency quarterback who found himself on the originating end of 34 passes. He threw for eight touchdowns.

He could beat you on special teams. Payton led the NFL with a 31.7-yard kickoff return average as a rookie. And he punted once, for 39 yards.

Payton was selected by the Bears with the fourth pick in the 1975 draft out of Jackson State. On the day he was drafted, he told reporters: "When I get through with Chicago, they'll be loving me." That prediction came to fruition, and it remains the case decades after

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"Sweetness" retired in 1987.

Payton is widely considered the best player in Bears history and among the top running backs of all time. He spent his entire NFL career with the Bears, missing just one game and retiring as the league's all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards. He was voted to nine Pro Bowls-second to Mike Singletary's 10 in Bears history-set 27 Bears records and had his No. 34 retired.

"When God said he would make a halfback or a fullback, he might have said Gale Sayers or he might have said Jim Brown," Mike Ditka said. "But when he said he would make the best football player who ever lived, he probably said two men-Jim Thorpe and Walter Payton."

Hall of Fame coach and longtime TV commentator John Madden said he thought Payton was the greatest football player in history. He said every player in the league should be given a video or book that detailed Payton's approach to the game.

With rare commitment and competitiveness, Payton raised the bar for every group of men he went to battle with. As much as anyone, Payton defined what a Bear is supposed to be.

"I'm a person who is willing to give his all," Payton

Walter Payton image. Click for full size.

Jeno’s Pizza, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, 1984

2. Walter Payton

When Payton retired after the 1987 season, he was the all-time NFL record holder in rushing yards (16,726), total yards (21,264), seasons with 1,000 or more rushing yards (10), rushing yards in one game (275, vs. Minnesota in 1977), games with more than 100 yards rushing (77), rushing touchdowns (110), receptions by a running back (492), and touchdown throws by a running back (8, not including one he threw in the 1984 NFL playoffs).

said. "That's how I want to be remembered."

Erected 2019 by Chicago Bears.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1953.

Location. 41° 51.639′ N, 87° 36.971′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in the Near South Side. It can be reached from East Waldron Drive. The marker as well as a statue of Payton are in front of and to the right of a stairway up to the south entrance of Soldier Field. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60605, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: George S. Halas (within shouting distance of this marker); Chicago Police Officers War Memorial (about 700 feet away,

Walter Payton: "Sweetness" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 7, 2023

3. Walter Payton: "Sweetness"

The 3,000-pound, 12-foot-tall bronze statue of Payton at Soldier Field was dedicated in 2019, before the Bears' 100th season. A similar-sized statue of Bears founder George Halas is nearby.

measured in a direct line); Balbo Monument (about 800 feet away); Battle of Fort Dearborn (approx. ¼ mile away); Tribute to Freedom and Water Wall (approx. 0.3 miles away); George Pullman (approx. 0.3 miles away); Special Olympics Eternal Flame of Hope (approx. 0.3 miles away); John J. Glessner House (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. The Bears unveiled the 3,000-pound, 12-foot Payton statue along with a similar-sized statue of franchise founder George Halas before their 100th season, in 2019.

Regarding Walter Payton. Thousands of people, including former coaches and teammates, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, attended Payton's memorial service held at Soldier Field after he died of bile duct cancer in 1999. Active members of the Bears team placed flowers underneath a picture of Payton as they left the field.

Also see . . . Walter Payton's page on website of Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was enshrined in 1993. (Submitted on February 19, 2026, by Luke Toussaint of Glenview, Illinois.)

Walter Payton Marker and Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn

4. Walter Payton Marker and Statue

The south end of Soldier Field image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 7, 2023

5. The south end of Soldier Field

Credits. This page was last revised on March 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 449 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 8, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on October 9, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 8, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.