Walter Payton No. 34      Running back Personal information Date of birth: July 25, 1954(1954-07-25) Columbia, Mississippi, United States Date of death: November 1, 1999(1999-11-01) (aged 45) South Barrington, Illinois, United States Career information College: Jackson State NFL Draft: 1975 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4 Debuted in 1975 for the Chicago Bears Last played in 1987 for the Chicago Bears Career history Chicago Bears (1975-1987) Career highlights and awards 9× Pro Bowl selection (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986) 6× First-team All-Pro selection (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985) 3× Second-team All-Pro (1976, 1983, 1986) 1977 NFL MVP 1977 PFWA NFL MVP 1977 NEA NFL MVP 1985 UPI NFC Player of the Year 1977 UPI NFC Player of the Year 1978 Pro Bowl MVP Super Bowl XX Champion NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team Chicago Bears #34 retired Stats at NFL.com Pro Football Hall of Fame College Football Hall of Fame Walter Payton (July 25, 1954 – November 1, 1999) was an American football player who spent his entire professional career with the National Football League's Chicago Bears. Walter Payton was known around the NFL as "Sweetness". He is remembered as one of the most prolific running backs in the history of American football. Payton, a nine-time Pro Bowl selectee, once held the league's record for most career rushing yards, touchdowns, carries, yards from scrimmage, all-purpose yards, and many other categories. He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Hall of Fame NFL player and coach Mike Ditka described Payton as the greatest football player he had ever seen—but even greater as a human being..