Thirteen seasons with the Chicago Bears brought good luck to running back Walter “Sweetness” Payton. Drafted fourth overall in 1975, the stutter-stepping All-American from Jackson State University broke Jim Brown’s career rushing record in 1984, and ended his career as the NFL’s leader in rushing yards—Emmitt Smith subsequently broke Payton’s record in 2002.

After retiring at the end of the 1987 season, Payton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Well respected both in and out of football circles, Payton should have had a long and rich post-football career, but his time was cut short when he died in 1999 from cancer caused by a rare liver disease.

In his honor, the city of Chicago added organ-donor information to its vehicle registration mailings, a cause that Payton had championed in the last months of his brief but brill...

Payton’s 1976 Topps rookie card is one of the most collectible football cards of the postwar era. Also highly prized is the Payton card from a 33-card set that Topps produced for Holsum Bread. In 1977, Payton and Buffalo Bills running back O.J. Simpson appeared on a card together, and in 1979 Payton was paired with Houston Oilers running back Earl Campbell.

Because Payton missed the rapid rise in autographed merchandise in the 21st century, signed Payton collectibles are relatively rare, causing the prices for his signed number-34 jerseys and both his Riddell team and commemorative Hall of Fame helmets to be somewhat higher than those of his peers.

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Recent News: Walter Payton Memorabilia

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English: Another Bear for the ages
The Southern, May 24th

Walter Payton. Butkus. Gale Sayers. Urlacher. They're all loved. And they'll always be. On Friday, the Bears announced that another loved figure, Mike Ditka, will have his No. 89 retired. It's about time. It's the 14th number retired by the Bears, the...Read more

Walter Payton's mom was mother to many
SunHerald.com, May 11th

USA Football chairman Jack Kemp, left, and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, right, recall some of the exploits of the late NFL Hall of Fame running back and Mississippi native Walter Payton, with his mother, Alyne Payton, second from left, and her...Read more

Alyne Payton, 1926-2013
Chicago Tribune, May 9th

Long before her famous son, Walter Payton, became known to millions as "Sweetness," Alyne Payton was known as the original version. "Just like every mother, she was proud of her kids, regardless of what they are doing or what they become," her son...Read more

Alyne Payton, beloved mother of Walter Payton, dies at 87
Jackson Clarion Ledger, May 7th

This 2008 photo shows Alyne Payton (from left) of Jackson, mother of Football Hall of Fame member Walter Payton, with Saints coach Sean Payton and former Saints running back Reggie Bush after she had them sign her autograph book following a practice...Read more

Payton shares his football knowledge with youth
Chicago Tribune, May 6th

Late legend Walter Payton's son, Jarrett, has been away from professional football for a couple of years now. At age 32, he knows his body can't take the pounding anymore and he has moved on to other things in his life, such as music and radio announcing...Read more

Walter Payton students ask baseball coach to step down
WGNtv.com, May 4th

The Sun Times reports several players on Walter Payton College Prep's baseball team told their coach they want him to step down. This comes after the coach forfeited a game against a South Side school, and claimed it was because parents were worried...Read more

Walter Payton College Prep forfeits baseball game against Gwendolyn Brooks ...
ABC7Chicago.com, April 29th

April 29, 2013 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- As Walter Payton College Prep's baseball team took to the field to play against Taft High School Monday afternoon, questions remain about what exactly led to the cancellation of Payton's Saturday night game against...Read more

Secret [redacted] clout list for Chicago Public Schools
WBEZ, April 25th

This week, Crain's is reporting that likely GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner got his daughter clouted in to elite Walter Payton High School, where one in three students come from private grammar schools. One of the entries on this log may be his...Read more