Walter Payton

1975–1987 · RB · 5'10", 200 lb · b. 1954 · Jackson St.

Career 16,726 rush yds · 110 rush TD · 492 rec · 4,538 rec yds · 15 rec TD · 331 pass yds · 8 pass TD

Seasons leading his conference

18

9 best in the NFL 9 conference only

42 Top-5 finishes

5 Title seasons

6 Categories led

1977 Best season

Spanning 1976–1980, peaking at 6 titles in 1977.

Led in Rushing Attempts for 5 straight seasons (1976–1980) — his longest run atop any category.

All-Time Standing

Against every player since 1922

Among league leaders

20th Conference titles 18
37th Best in the NFL 9
48th Top-5 finishes 42

Each rank is against the players who have achieved that thing at least once.

Career leaderboards

2nd Rushing Yards 16,726
2nd Rushing Attempts 3,838
3rd Yards from Scrimmage 21,264
6th Rushing Touchdowns 110
87th Yards per Carry 4.36
118th Points Scored 750
190th Receptions 492
379th Receiving Yards 4,538
497th Passing Touchdowns 8

All-time career totals, top 500 per category.

Where He Led

led the whole NFL led his conference

Category	Titles	Best	Streak	Seasons
Rushing Attempts	5	1st	5 yrs (1976–1980)	1976 311 1977 339 1978 333 1979 369 1980 NFC 317 1981 #3 1984 #2 1985 #3
Rushing Yards	5	1st	5 yrs (1976–1980)	1977 1,852 1976 NFC 1,390 1978 NFC 1,395 1979 NFC 1,610 1980 NFC 1,460 1982 #3 1983 #3 1984 #2 1985 #2
Rushing Touchdowns	4	1st	4 yrs (1976–1979)	1977 14 1976 NFC 13 1978 NFC 11 1979 NFC 14 1975 #3
Yards from Scrimmage	2	1st	2 yrs (1977–1978)	1977 2,121 1978 1,875 1976 #2 1979 #2 1980 #2 1983 #3 1984 #3 1985 #2 1986 #3
Points Scored	1	1st	—	1977 NFC 96
Yards per Carry	1	1st	—	1977 5.46

Title Seasons

5 seasons with at least one title

Year	Titles	Led in
1980	2	YDS 1,460 ATT 317
1979	3	YDS 1,610 TD 14 ATT 369
1978	4	YDS 1,395 TD 11 ATT 333 YScm 1,875
1977	6	YDS 1,852 TD 14 PTS 96 Y/A 5.46 ATT 339 YScm 2,121
1976	3	YDS 1,390 TD 13 ATT 311

Rushing

13 seasons

Year	Team	Lg	G	ATT	YDS	Y/A	TD	1D	FL
1975	CHI	NFC	13	196	679	3.46	7	—	—
1976	CHI	NFC	14	311	1,390	4.47	13	—	—
1977	CHI	NFC	14	339	1,852	5.46	14	—	—
1978	CHI	NFC	16	333	1,395	4.19	11	—	—
1979	CHI	NFC	16	369	1,610	4.36	14	—	—
1980	CHI	NFC	16	317	1,460	4.61	6	—	—
1981	CHI	NFC	16	339	1,222	3.61	6	—	—
1982	CHI	NFC	9	148	596	4.03	1	—	—
1983	CHI	NFC	16	314	1,421	4.53	6	—	—
1984	CHI	NFC	16	381	1,684	4.42	11	—	—
1985	CHI	NFC	16	324	1,551	4.79	9	—	—
1986	CHI	NFC	16	321	1,333	4.15	8	—	—
1987	CHI	NFC	12	146	533	3.65	4	—	—
Career	—	—	190	3,838	16,726	4.36	110	—	—

Receiving

13 seasons

Year	Team	Lg	G	REC	TGT	YDS	Y/R	TD	1D	CTH%
1975	CHI	NFC	13	33	—	213	6.46	0	—	—
1976	CHI	NFC	14	15	—	149	9.93	0	—	—
1977	CHI	NFC	14	27	—	269	9.96	2	—	—
1978	CHI	NFC	16	50	—	480	9.60	0	—	—
1979	CHI	NFC	16	31	—	313	10.10	2	—	—
1980	CHI	NFC	16	46	—	367	7.98	1	—	—
1981	CHI	NFC	16	41	—	379	9.24	2	—	—
1982	CHI	NFC	9	32	—	311	9.72	0	—	—
1983	CHI	NFC	16	53	—	607	11.45	2	—	—
1984	CHI	NFC	16	45	—	368	8.18	0	—	—
1985	CHI	NFC	16	49	—	483	9.86	2	—	—
1986	CHI	NFC	16	37	—	382	10.32	3	—	—
1987	CHI	NFC	12	33	—	217	6.58	1	—	—
Career	—	—	190	492	—	4,538	9.22	15	—	—

Passing

13 seasons

Year	Team	Lg	G	CMP	ATT	CMP%	YDS	Y/A	TD	INT	SK	RTG
1975	CHI	NFC	13	0	1	0.0%	0	0.00	0	1	—	0.0
1976	CHI	NFC	14	0	0	—	0	—	0	0	—	—
1977	CHI	NFC	14	0	0	—	0	—	0	0	—	—
1978	CHI	NFC	16	0	0	—	0	—	0	0	—	—
1979	CHI	NFC	16	1	1	100.0%	54	54.00	1	0	—	158.3
1980	CHI	NFC	16	0	3	0.0%	0	0.00	0	0	—	39.6
1981	CHI	NFC	16	0	2	0.0%	0	0.00	0	0	—	39.6
1982	CHI	NFC	9	1	3	33.3%	39	13.00	1	0	—	121.5
1983	CHI	NFC	16	3	6	50.0%	95	15.83	3	2	—	95.8
1984	CHI	NFC	16	3	8	37.5%	47	5.88	2	1	—	57.8
1985	CHI	NFC	16	3	5	60.0%	96	19.20	1	0	—	143.8
1986	CHI	NFC	16	0	4	0.0%	0	0.00	0	1	—	0.0
1987	CHI	NFC	12	0	1	0.0%	0	0.00	0	1	—	0.0
Career	—	—	190	11	34	32.4%	331	9.74	8	6	—	69.6