Kevin Kelly was no different from most people who were teen-agers when Walter Payton played football."He was every boy's idol in this city," Kelly said.
Then one Friday night at a health club, the Barrington High School junior got the chance to meet everyone's hero and future Hall of Famer. But that workout became more than just a once-in-a-lifetime thrill.
It turned into a lifelong friendship through Kelly's college career to eventually coaching Payton's son Jarrett at St. Viator.
It was a bond between two men that was evident in the final days before Payton died of bile duct cancer Monday at age 45. And throughout his year-long battle with his rare liver disease.
A battle Kelly says Payton fought the same way the man he refers to as "Superman" approached everything in life.
"He fought the disease with his cape on," Kelly said. "The ultimate champion."
There were smiles as Kelly discussed the workouts and the laughs shared by a rich white kid from the suburbs and a black man from the rural south.
And there were tears Wednesday afternoon at St. Viator as Kelly reflected on the final days of Payton's life.
In the last week-and-a-half, Kelly went to the South Barrington home on a daily basis. He joined family and former Bears teammates such as Mike Singletary to pray for Payton.
"He had his family there and his wife (Connie) has been caring for him like a mother cared for a baby for a while now," Kelly said. "We did a lot of praying. Walter was left in God's hands, and he's in a better place.
"He made his peace with God before he left, and we got to say our goodbyes. I'm personally thankful to Connie for letting me do that and be there."
Kelly was there to hug and console Jarrett moments after his father died. Just as he was there when Jarrett and his sister Brittney came home after they were born.
And Kelly has gone to the family home to provide support each day since Walter's death.
"Obviously, it's been a very difficult time with a lot of grieving," Kelly said. "Connie has remarkably been a pillar of strength.
"I've really been there as a family friend to help hold them together, but you can see I'm having a hard time doing that for myself. It's been a difficult time for a year."
There were still some good times since Payton publicly disclosed his illness in February.
In July, they went golfing, and Kelly said Payton still displayed his sense of humor after he topped a ball just a few yards.
"We had a great time," Kelly said. "We were just chipping and putting and talking and got a chance to get out of the house."
And there was the weekend earlier this fall when the University of Miami didn't have a game so Jarrett returned home.
"Walter said, 'Come on over, we'll watch a (game) tape and be with Jarrett,'æ" Kelly said. "We did and it was great."
It wasn't too different from how they first met nearly 20 years ago. They were working out close to midnight in a nearly desolate health club when a 16-year-old Kelly was asked if he needed a partner by one of football's greats.
"I was just stunned," Kelly said. "I kept thinking I couldn't quit."
Kelly figured that would be it when they finished. He began kicking himself because he didn't get an autograph and would have no proof for his friends about his legendary workout.
Then Payton came up to Kelly and eventually gave him his phone number. He also told Kelly he probably would be too sore to return for more the next day.
"I'll be here tomorrow," Kelly said he told Payton. "And we struck up a friendship that lasted a long time."
They would run together at Payton's legendary workout hill in Arlington Heights or go on runs through the woods near his South Barrington home.
It continued as Payton went on to lead the Bears to a Super Bowl title before retiring in 1987. And Kelly went from an All-Area lineman at Barrington to an undersized linebacker at Miami and Indiana in a college career that ended the same year.
"He helped me accomplish things in my football career that really went beyond my abilities," Kelly said.
Kelly called it amazing that he was able to return to the area as a head coach in 1996 to the school Jarrett was attending.
A year later, Jarrett switched from soccer to football. Kelly had too much respect for the father's work ethic to go easy on the son.
"I know Walter said to Jarrett many times, and certainly before he passed away, that he wishes Jarrett had the work ethic and fire in his belly that Walter had," Kelly said. "I love Jarrett, and I hope he never forgets that."
Kelly doesn't plan to, either. He said he would be there for Jarrett if there were any Miami games Connie couldn't attend.
Because even though Kelly's friend has passed away, the friendship will continue to live on.
"I feel blessed to know the family, and there is a great woman behind that man," Kelly said. "I'm very blessed. I've been extraordinarily lucky to be around him ... and I promised Walter I'd help take care of his son forever.
"I know the spirit of Walter Payton will be inside of me forever."
