Family, friends share their memories of Walter Payton

There was that famous run against Kansas City where he ping-ponged his way through what seemed the entire Chiefs defense en route to the end zone.

There was that sack-saving block in the backfield against Minnesota that kept a stunning comeback alive on a Thursday night during that magical Super Bowl season of 1985-86.

There were the majestic dives up, over and into the end zone, the punishments delivered to would-be tacklers, the handing of the ball to his linemen to spike, the running on his toes, the high stepping, the smile, the joy.

Sweetness indeed.

From the moment he donned that No. 34 jersey in 1975 as a rookie out of Jackson State to the everlasting image of him remaining on the sidelines long after a playoff loss in 1988, his final game, Walter Payton provided a lifetime of memories for Bears fans. Memories that have only grown fonder.

"The longer it's been since he passed, the more his reputation grows," said Steve Sabol, president of NFL Films. "There are not many athletes like that, but Walter is one of them.

"That says a lot about the kind of person he was, how unselfish he was."

On the 10-year anniversary of his death, we take a look at the Walter Payton many didn't get the chance to know.

The man who quietly went about helping people in need, a teammate who always knew what to say, a role model, prankster, friend, husband, father.

"Not only was he the greatest dad, he was a really good friend," said Payton's son, Jarrett.

"Everyone you run into - even now - always says what a great guy Walter was," said former teammate Ted Albrecht. "And he was. He had a big old heart."

"He was my hero," said Payton's daughter Brittney. "He was always there for you."

Around the NFL, from fans to fellow players, Payton was a beloved figure as well, even when he was playing for the enemy.

"Of all the games I was at covering Walter - and many were played on the road - he was never booed," Sabol said. "Even guys like Johnny Unitas got booed in some places.

"But Walter Payton was never booed, and to me that's a remarkable epitaph."

Today we share more stories, some touching, some that will make you smile, delivered by some of the people who were closest to Payton:

Under the weather, but a record showing

Steve Sabol, NFL Films president:

• I remember in 1977, the Bears were playing Minnesota at Soldier Field, and as a cameraman, I had to be on the field early to set up my equipment and such. I overheard a conversation on the field between Walter and either a trainer or doctor, and neither was sure if Walter was going to play, he obviously wasn't feeling well.

That was the game where he rushed 40 times for 275 yards, setting a single-game rushing record.

• People talk about his running ability and his drive, but what I remember about him were his hands. They weren't big, but they were like bear traps.

Many times over the years I was asked to emcee football banquets and many times Walter was one of the recipients. He would always sit next to me. It got to be a running gag, but every time I would stand to speak, Walter would reach over and pinch my butt. He was so strong it would leave a black-and-blue mark for days.

I started asking not to be seated next to Walter, but every time ... there he was.

Won't forget day he gave away my toys

Jarrett Payton, son of Walter and Connie:

• One time we went to Toys 'R' Us and we were picking up a whole bunch of gifts. He told me to get whatever I wanted. We filled up two cars worth of toys and we ended up driving to this apartment complex not too far away. We get there and he tells me to start unloading the cars. and I was like "why are we unloading my presents (laughs)?"

We ended up giving the gifts to some families in need. At one point he was doing 100,000 gifts and he was doing it anonymously, out of the goodness of his heart. He didn't want the publicity.

Note: Sunday, Nov. 8, is the annual Soldier Field Toy Drive benefiting the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation. Fans are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to donate.

Remarkable strength from a gifted athlete

Clyde Emrich, former strength coach with the Bears:

• I remember the strength. If he was a car going through a Detroit assembly line, he'd have all chrome-plated parts. Everything was good.

One time, I was sitting in the weight room chatting with him, and he reaches down and picks a dumbbell off the floor and starts pressing it over his head with one hand. It was a 100-pound dumbbell.

Another time, I had to go out of the weight room for something, and I come back and I see him doing repetition dead-lifts with 525 pounds.

I said, "Walter, you've got a hamstring problem, you shouldn't be doing those." He said, "That's all right. I'll just finish these."

He was genetically (gifted) and naturally strong, but to reach your peak you have to work, and he did. He trained like the champion that he was.

Payback time always was special to him

Ted Albrecht, former teammate, color analyst for Northwestern football

• We were in Tampa my rookie year in December, and when we left Chicago it was blustery and cold and we get there on Saturday and it was beautiful - 80 degrees, no wind. We get to the hotel and I look down at the hotel pool and there's Walter laying by the pool getting a tan and everyone's cracking up.

Dan Neal says, "I say we get a trash can full of ice and dump it on him." I said, "Yeah, sure. Good idea."

So he went and got one and filled it up and we went down by the pool and we're sneaking up on him and we get there and I dump it on him and I turn around ... and it's just me there. Everyone else had scattered. I'm thinking "Uh oh."

Needless to say, I proceeded to take brutal punishment from Walter. We'd get to our hotel room and I'd pull the covers back and the sheets would be covered with ice.

One day at practice he used eight rolls of tape to tape my shoulder pads to my locker. It took me forever to get them down, making me late, so there's a fine. He always had something up his sleeve.

Dad could do it all, except for one thing

Brittney Payton, daughter of Walter and Connie:

• I remember one time we went on a daddy-daughter vacation to the Mall of America - he loved to shop and he loved to bring back gifts from wherever he had traveled.

Anyway, we went to the mall and the next morning we were getting ready to go out again and he was trying to do my hair and I'm like, "Dad, that's not right."

He did his best (laughs). He was so good at doing everything else, but not his little girl's hair.

• He always made sure he'd take time for his fans. I've met so many people who met him when they were younger and later on they'd meet him again and he'd remember their names. That always amazed people.

His generosity was amazing to everyone

John St. Augustine, friend and former co-worker:

• I remember around 1991 or '92, I came out to Walter's office with my son Andy, who was 3 or 4 at the time. We were waiting in his assistant's office and down the hall we heard a "Psst, psst," and we looked down the hall and there was Walter with his head sticking out the door but from floor level, and on the carpet leading up to his door were pieces of candy.

So my son goes running down there and picks up the first piece of candy, the second, the third and on the fourth, Walter's hands reach out and grab him and there's nothing but laughter. No one would ever believe it.

• There was such a generosity about Walter. He hugged everybody. He hugged people all the time. Every interaction he had with people was him giving completely of himself.

In huddle, in life, he put everyone at ease

Tom Thayer, former teammate, current Bears color analyst:

• At first, it was hard for me to overcome the excitement and the hero worship of Walter and to try to be a teammate of his. When I came in, I was really uncertain of where my position on this team was going to be.

I'll always remember the first time I was in a huddle with him at practice, and there was a play called where I was going to have influence in his success or failure. That's a lot to put on your shoulders because it's Walter Payton.

Walter was special because he didn't need any encouragement. You didn't wonder if he was going to be healthy. He was healthy every day. He was just like the Energizer Bunny. His energy level was never going to be less than 100 percent, and he was also such a playful guy and so enthusiastic that he was excited just to be at practice.

• When Walter would walk into an elevator full of people, he would make everybody smile. There were a lot of occasions where I saw Walter in public, and he could just relax the whole room because he smiled and he was so gracious, and he was so kind, that he just put everybody at a comfort level. Nowadays, these modern-day guys, they add tenseness, not comfort.

Bob LeGere contributed to this story

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=333212">Family, friends share their memories of Walter Payton</a></li> <li><a href="/story//?id=333209">Bears to honor Payton in ceremony at halftime</a></li> <li><a href="/story//?id=333207">Rozner: Payton still worshipped after all these years</a></li> <li><a href="/story//?id=333277">Imrem: Still hard to believe what happened to Payton</a></li> <li><a href="/special/payton/timeline.htm">Timeline from 1999 special section</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>