Fansided

10 greatest Chicago Bears of all time

By Russell S. Baxter

LOS ANGELES,CA: Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears circa 1987 prepares to play against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES,CA: Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears circa 1987 prepares to play against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 30: Running back Walter Payton #34 of the Chicago Bears is tackled by cornerback Everson Walls #24, linebacker Bob Breunig #53 and safety Michael Downs #26 of the Dallas Cowboys during a game at Soldier Field on September 30, 1984 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cowboys defeated the Bears 23-14. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 30: Running back Walter Payton #34 of the Chicago Bears is tackled by cornerback Everson Walls #24, linebacker Bob Breunig #53 and safety Michael Downs #26 of the Dallas Cowboys during a game at Soldier Field on September 30, 1984 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cowboys defeated the Bears 23-14. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

1. RB Walter Payton

He is the franchise’s all-time leader in rushing yards as well as receptions. And he was a complete football player, called upon on more than occasion to throw the football and his success in that realm can’t be ignored as well. Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton was the fourth overall pick in the 1975 NFL draft. The Jackson State product was used primarily as a kickoff return artist as a rookie. But he found his way into the starting backfield soon afterwards and spent his entire career – 13 seasons from 1975-87 – with the Chicago Bears.

His 16,726 yards on the ground rank only behind fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith (18,355).

Payton also hauled in a team-record 492 passes, good for 4,538 yards and 15 scores. And not bad for a player who as a rookie saw action not only as a runner but as a kickoff return artist as well. And for good measure, he also threw eight TD passes.

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He currently ranks 11th in NFL history with 125 TDs scored and third in total yards from scrimmage (21,264). In 2019, Alyssa Barbieri of Bears Wire (USA Today) wrote about the passing of Payton 20 years earlier in 1999. She mentioned one of his memorable quotes. “When you’re good at something, you’ll tell everyone. When you’re great at something, they’ll tell you.”

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