Walter Payton: A Reflection

For those of you who may not know, the Bears are hosted a memorial of sorts for the late Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton this Sunday at Soldier Field during halftime of the Bears game against the Browns.  They marked the 10th anniversary of Payton’s death from bile duct cancer and reminded many of us just how great Payton was and how much of an icon he is in Chicago sports still to this day. 

For anyone who is too young to remember or isn’t in touch with Chicago Bears and NFL history, Payton was the running back that helped carry the Bears from the basement of the then NFC Central to the top of the NFL.  Payton also held the NFL rushing record for a period of time (it’s now being held by former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith) and was one of the “good guys” of the NFL. 

Payton is synonymous with Chicago Bears football and when he passed away ten years ago, a piece of the team and the town of Chicago itself passed away with him.  Payton represents everything that was right about Chicago and the Bears, hardnosed hard working with a never give up attitude.  Unfortunately, the Bears really haven’t had the kind of success that they had when Payton was there but then again times have changed.

So as we sit back and reflect on Payton, his career and his life let’s remember that he represented a great part of Chicago Bears history and should never be forgotten.  The Bears have had a lot of different stars in the past, players like Mike Singletary, Brian Urlacher and Gayle Sayers but none of them compare to what Payton has done for the team, the city of Chicago and the NFL.  So let’s remember just how great of a player and person Payton was on this, the ten year anniversary of his death.