Walter Payton

  Off the field Walter Payton was a caring and loving person. He was deeply involved in the Chicago community, helping kids that were in need and living on the streets with his foundation; the Walter Payton Foundation. Connie Payton, Walters' wife, says “He was about really making a difference in other people's lives. So in my eyes, he was the greatest—not for what he did on the football field, but for the kind of human being he was” (Shaver). His wife knows him best and her view on him is very reliable. His personality was hardworking and his mentality was unmatched. His leadership on the field and in the community was stellar. He was a role model and many people looked up to him. “Walter understood that athletes should be leaders, not just on the field, but in the neighborhoods,” Tagliabue said, according to the Chicago Tribune. “He understood also that his values, teamwork, respect for the adversary, incredible effort in the face of adversity, could inspire and unify millions and millions of people from many, many diverse walks of life” (Kozlowski). Walter took his actions off the field just as seriously as he did on the field. He transferred his values that made him a terrific running back and used them to be influential in the world outside of football. A massive newspaper company in the Chicago tribune saying all these amazing things about him is something only few people can say has happened to them. His loved and legendary status earned him a tribute at the college he played at, Jackson State. A recreational center worth 12.3 million dollars was built and named in his honor. His older brother, Eddie, who works at Jackson State as a coach, describes how the center was built to remember his great impact on the school and community(“Walter”). It’s clear that his impact was so large on the community that they made a center and named it in honor of all the work that he has done for the school and that community. Even his brother has congratulated him for all the work he has done and the impact he has had on many people's lives. Walter’s brother, wife, and son knew Walter the best, his son said “The same way my parents taught me, we’re trying to steer my kids down that same path. Not just being a good athlete, but being a good person. That’s what keeps your memory alive” (Eves).They are the people he has been closest with throughout his life. They would know Walter the best and understand his kindness and lovingness. 

 Today, Walter Payton is making impacts on the NFL and in people's lives, even while passing away over 20 years ago. He acts as a role model for other current NFL running backs. His excellence on the field earned him an NFL award that was named after him, the “Walter Payton Man of the Year'' award. His legacy lives on in this award. It is presented once every year to an NFL athlete that has displayed excellence both on and off the field (Barbieri). Every year a player from all 32 NFL teams is nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, with this award being available it pushes NFL athletes to not only try their best on the field, but to also show acts of kindness and help others off of the field. Many Athletes cherish the award they are given but some awards mean more than others, for example, ”During a lunch with Hall of Fame staff and volunteers, he explained that beside being enshrined, the award he cherishes was being named the 2003 Walter Payton Man of the Year”(Kendle). Will Shields has won many awards throughout his lengthy career in which he played 224 straight games over 14 seasons. For him to say that the Walter Payton award means the most to him speaks measures. This shows that although Walter had died many years ago, people still take immense pride in winning an award that means more than just football. It means that you are equally as talented on the field as you are off, which means more to some players than others. This also shows the importance that the NFL puts on this very special award. 32 players out of the whole NFL are nominated to win this award and only one can win. This also can motivate various players throughout the NFL to help their community thrive in the common day. Some people donate money and some donate their time which is just as precious or even more, but all in all both help better their area and put a good mark on one's reputation. This award inspires athletes to be better in the community, this is shown by,"I am honored to be selected as the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year," said Davis. "This award means a great deal to me, as it symbolizes the valued work that the NFL, its players, and its 32 teams do in the community. I am blessed to have such a strong support system in my family, the Carolina Panthers and the NFL, which allows me to make an impact in the communities we serve"(). Walter's accomplishments when he was alive still impact the mindsets of football players today. Since this award came to light, NFL athletes do not only focus on their actions and play on the field but also how they can impact people in a positive way off the turf. As Thomas Davis says this award is mainly about one’s impact in their select community and how they have changed peoples lives for the better. Walter Payton still inspires people positively today although he is not with us. However, his legacy will still live on as long as people and players remember to always try and make a positive impact.