The Sports Network established the Walter Payton Player of the Year
Award in 1987, and it is presented annually to the most outstanding
college football player on the Division I-AA level. The winner is chosen
by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors
from the division. When the award was established, it was the only such
award to be presented to an indiviual player in I-AA football. It has
since been joined by the Buck Buchanan Award, which was established in
1995.
Payton, who played his college ball for Jackson State, set the NCAA
record for points scored in a career with 464. He scored 66 touchdowns
for the Tigers, while rushing for 3,563 yards. Payton also kicked five
field goals and 53 PATs. in his four-year career at JSU, he set nine
school records, six of which still stand today.
However, Payton's collegiate accomplishments pale in comparison to the
numbers he posted in his professional career. He is the NFL's all-time
leading rusher with 16,726 yards, and the Chicago Bears all-time leading
scorer with 750 points. Upon his retirement, Payton was the holder of
eight NFL records and 28 Bear records. In 1977, at the age of 23, Payton
became the youngest player to be voted NFL MVP. He added a second league
MVP award following the 1985 season. During his 13-year NFL career,
Payton was named to the Pro Bowl nine times. He was also named a member
of the NFL's prestigious 75th anniversary Team.
As active as he was on the field, Payton was equally active in charity
work off the field. He was honorary chairman for the 1983 Heart
Association Jump Rope for Health, and for the Illinois Mental Health
Association from 1978 through 1980. Payton was also involved with the
Boy Scouts, March of Dimes, Brian Piccolo Research Fund, United Way and
the Peace Corps.
