PAYTON FACTS

AGE: 45; born July 25, 1954.

BIRTHPLACE: Columbia, Miss.

PLAYING CAREER: College--Jackson State. Drafted by Chicago Bears in 1975; leading rusher in NFL history with 16,726 yards; holds seven NFL and 28 Bears’ records; scored 110 rushing touchdowns; rushed for an NFL record 275 yards against Minnesota in 1977; had 77 games of 100 yards or more rushing; gained 1,000 yards or more in 10 of his 13 NFL seasons; selected to nine Pro Bowls; inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993; No. 34 jersey retired.

EDUCATION: Graduated Jackson State.

FAMILY: Wife, Connie; two children, Jarrett and Brittney.

POST FOOTBALL: Member, Bears’ board of directors; co-owner of CART auto racing team; minority owner of Walter Payton power equipment; owner of Walter Payton Roundhouse Complex.

CAREER RUSHING YARDS

1. Walter Payton (1975-87): 16,726

2. Barry Sanders (1989-98): 15,269

3. Eric Dickerson (1983-93): 13,259

4. Emmitt Smith (1990-current): 13,174

5. Tony Dorsett (1977-88): 12,739

6. Jim Brown (1957-65): 12,312

7. Marcus Allen (1982-97): 12,243

8. Franco Harris (1972-84): 12,120

9. Thurman Thomas (1988-current): 11,786

10. John Riggins (1971-85): 11,352

CAREER RUSHING ATTEMPTS

1. Walter Payton (1975-87): 3,838

2. Emmitt Smith (1990-current): 3,086

3. Barry Sanders (1989-98): 3,062

4. Marcus Allen (1982-97): 3,022

5. Eric Dickerson (1983-93): 2,996

6. Franco Harris (1972-84): 2,949

7. Tony Dorsett (1977-88): 2,936

8. John Riggins (1971-85): 2,916

9. Thurman Thomas (1988-current): 2,813

10. Ottis Anderson (1979-92): 2,562

YARDS PER CARRY

(minimum 750 attempts)

1. Jim Brown (1957-65): 5.22

2. Mercury Morris (1969-76): 5.14

3. Gale Sayers (1965-71): 5.00

4. Barry Sanders (1989-98): 4.99

5. Paul Lowe (1960-61, 1963-69): 4.87

6. Lenny Moore (1956-67): 4.84

7. Joe Perry (1950-63): 4.82

8. Marv Hubbard (1969-75, 1977): 4.78

9. Wendell Tyler (1977-86): 4.75

10. Greg Pruitt (1973-84): 4.74

35. Walter Payton (1975-87): 4.36

RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS

1. Emmitt Smith (1990-current): 131

2. Marcus Allen (1982-97): 123

3. Walter Payton (1975-87): 110

4. Jim Brown (1957-65): 106

5. John Riggins (1971-85): 104

6. Barry Sanders (1989-98): 99

7. Franco Harris (1972-84): 91

8. Eric Dickerson (1983-93): 90

9. Jim Taylor (1958-67): 83

10. Ottis Anderson (1979-92): 81

YARDS RUSHING, GAME

275--Walter Payton, Nov. 20, 1977

Chicago vs. Minnesota

273--O.J. Simpson, Nov. 25, 1976

Buffalo vs. Detroit

250--O.J. Simpson, Sept. 16, 1973

Buffalo vs. New England

247--Willie Ellison, Dec. 5, 1971

L.A. Rams vs. New Orleans

246--Corey Dillon, Dec. 4, 1997

Cincinnati vs. Tennessee

243--Cookie Gilchrist, Dec. 8, 1963

Buffalo vs. N.Y. Jets

237--Barry Sanders, Nov. 13, 1994

Detroit vs. Tampa Bay

237--Emmitt Smith, Oct. 31, 1993

Dallas vs. Philadelphia

237--Jim Brown, Nov. 19, 1961

Cleveland vs. Philadelphia

237--Jim Brown, Nov. 24, 1957

Cleveland vs. L.A. Rams

YEAR-BY-YEAR RUSHING

REGULAR SEASON

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Year Rush Yds. Avg. TD 1975 196 679 3.5 7 1976 311 1,390 4.5 13 1977 339 1,852 5.5 14 1978 333 1,395 4.2 11 1979 369 1,610 4.4 14 1980 317 1,460 4.6 6 1981 339 1,222 3.6 6 1982 148 596 4.0 1 1983 314 1,421 4.5 6 1984 381 1,684 4.4 11 1985 324 1,551 4.8 9 1986 321 1,333 4.2 8 1987 146 533 3.7 4 Totals 3,838 16,726 4.4 110

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POSTSEASON

*--*

1977 19 60 3.2 0 1979 16 67 4.2 2 1984 46 196 4.3 0 1985 67 186 2.8 0 1986 14 38 2.7 0 1987 18 85 4.7 0 Totals 180 632 3.5 2

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Researched by Houston Mitchell