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
*--*
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
*--*
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
*--*
*
Researched by Houston Mitchell
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