- Was not allowed to play football until his junior year of high school.
- Before death, he was a spokesperson for organ donation, even though an organ donation could have done nothing at that time to save his life.
- When brother Eddie Payton (who also played in the NFL) was asked how it felt to be the brother of a star, he replied, "I don't know. You better go ask Walter!".
- Appeared on "Soul Train" while in High School.
- Voted NFL Player of the Century.
- One of the investors of the St. Louis Stallions NFL Expansion candidate in 1993.
- Inducted into the ESPN Chicago Hall of Fame in 2011 (inaugural class) with Michael Jordan, Ernie Banks, Dick Butkus, and Mike Ditka.
- (1975-1987) Running back for Chicago Bears football team: 7-time All-Pro selection; led Bears to their only Super Bowl championship, 1986. Also holds all-time rushing record for one game, 275 yards. Graduate of Jackson State University, Mississippi. Running back for the National Football League's Chicago Bears, 1975-1987. Retired as the NFL's [all-time] 2nd leader in rushing yards with 16,726 (now ranks behind Emmitt Smith who has 18,355 and broke Payton's record in 2004). Died at age 45 from a rare liver disease. Payton remains the [#1]#2 all-time rushing leader in pro football history, with 16,726 yards in his 13-year career. The accomplishment has been called "one of sport's most awesome records." Twice Most Valuable Player in the NFL; elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. His former coach Mike Ditka said: "He's the best football player I've ever seen. At all positions, he's the best I've ever seen." Two children, Brittney Payton and Jarrett Payton (in 1999, also a running back, at University of Miami).
- Appeared on Saturday Night Live (1975) as a co-host with Joe Montana and did an impersonation of Michael Jackson.
- Chicago Bears All-Time Rushing Leader (16,726 yards).
- Ranks 2nd on NFL All-Time Rushing Attempts List (3,838).
- Ranks 2nd on NFL All-Time Rushing Yardage List (16,726).
- Ranks 93rd on NFL All-Time Rushing Average List (4.4).
- Ranks 4th on NFL All-Time Rushing Touchdowns List (110).
- Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 474-475. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
- Ranks 3rd on NFL All-Time All-Purpose Yards List (21,803).
- Ranks 3rd on NFL All-Time Yards From Scrimmage List (21,264).
- Ranks 84th on NFL All-Time Points Scored List (750).
- Ranks 8th on NFL All-Time Rushing Yards per Game List (88).
- Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, and Inducted into Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
- Son of Peter Payton, and Alyne Payton. Father of Jarrett Payton, and Brittney Payton.
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