The 50 Greatest Players in Chicago Bears History. Robert W. Cohen
the Detroit Lions, with one of his TDs coming on a 75-yard pass from Bob Avellini.
Payton led the Bears to a 21–10 win over the Packers on December 11, 1977, by rushing for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Although the Bears lost to the Broncos by a score of 16–7 on October 16, 1978, Payton rushed for a season-high 157 yards during the contest, gaining nearly half of those on a 76-yard run.
Payton starred during a 26–7 victory over the Vikings on September 9, 1979, rushing for 182 yards and two touchdowns, which came on runs of 43 and 26 yards.
Payton gave the Bears a 7–0 win over Buffalo on October 7, 1979, by scoring the game’s only touchdown on a short run in the fourth quarter, concluding the contest with 155 yards rushing.
Payton accounted for all three touchdowns the Bears scored during a 30–27 loss to Minnesota on October 21, 1979, scoring twice himself and throwing a 54-yard TD pass to Brian Baschnagel.
Payton led the Bears to a 28–27 win over the 49ers on October 28, 1979, by rushing for 162 yards and three touchdowns.
Payton amassed 200 yards of total offense during a 42–6 mauling of the Cardinals in the final game of the 1979 regular season, rushing for 157 yards and three touchdowns, and making three receptions for 43 yards.
Payton contributed to a 22–3 victory over the New Orleans Saints on September 14, 1980, by rushing for 183 yards and one touchdown, which came on a 69-yard run.
Payton helped lead the Bears to a 61–7 thrashing of the Packers on December 7, 1980, by rushing for 130 yards and three touchdowns.
Although the Bears lost to Dallas by a score of 10–9 on Thanksgiving Day 1981, Payton rushed for a season-high 179 yards during the contest.
Payton once again starred in defeat on September 18, 1983, rushing for 161 yards and one touchdown, and completing a pair of TD passes to Willie Gault during a 34–31 overtime loss to New Orleans, with the longest of his TD tosses covering 56 yards.
Payton earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors by rushing for 179 yards and one TD during a 27–0 win over Denver on September 9, 1984, with his TD run covering 72 yards.
Payton led the Bears to a 20–7 win over New Orleans on October 7, 1984, by rushing for 154 yards and one TD, supplanting Jim Brown in the process as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.
Although the Bears suffered a 20–14 defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers on December 9, 1984, Payton rushed for a season-high 175 yards and one touchdown during the contest.
Payton led the Bears to their ninth straight victory without a loss the following season by rushing for a season-high 192 yards and one TD during a 16–10 win over the Packers on November 3, 1985, with his outstanding performance earning him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Payton earned that distinction for the third and final time in his career by rushing for 177 yards and one touchdown during a 13–10 overtime victory over Philadelphia on September 14, 1986.
Notable Achievements
1 • Rushed for more than 1,000 yards 10 times, topping 1,500 yards four times.
2 • Surpassed 50 receptions twice and 500 receiving yards once.
3 • Surpassed 1,500 yards from scrimmage 10 times, topping 2,000 yards on four occasions.
4 • Scored more than 10 touchdowns seven times.
5 • Averaged more than 5 yards per carry once (5.5 in 1977).
6 • Led NFL in rushing attempts four times, rushing yards once, rushing touchdowns once, touchdowns once, rushing average once, yards from scrimmage twice, and all-purpose yards once.
7 • Finished second in NFL in rushing attempts twice, rushing yards five times, rushing touchdowns twice, touchdowns once, points scored once, yards from scrimmage once, and all-purpose yards once.
8 • Finished third in NFL in rushing yards once, rushing touchdowns once, touchdowns once, yards from scrimmage four times, and all-purpose yards three times.
9 • Led Bears in rushing 12 times.
10 • Holds Bears single-season records for most yards rushing (1,852 in 1977), rushing touchdowns (14 in 1977 and 1979), and yards from scrimmage (2,121 in 1977).
11 • Holds Bears career records for most rushing attempts (3,838), yards rushing (16,726), rushing touchdowns (110), touchdowns (125), receptions (492), yards from scrimmage (21,264), and all-purpose yards (21,803).
12 • Ranks among Bears career leaders with 4,538 receiving yards (4th), 750 points scored (3rd), and 190 games played (4th).
13 • Ranks among NFL’s all-time leaders in rushing attempts (2nd), yards rushing (2nd), rushing touchdowns (4th), touchdowns (11th), yards from scrimmage (3rd), and all-purpose yards (3rd).
14 • Four-time division champion (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987).
15 • 1985 NFC champion.
16 • Super Bowl XX champion.
17 • Three-time NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
18 • Nine-time Pro Bowl selection (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986).
19 • Five-time First-Team All-Pro selection (1976, 1977, 1980, 1984, and 1985).
20 • Three-time Second-Team All-Pro selection (1978, 1979, and 1986).
21 • Seven-time First-Team All-NFC selection (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, and 1985).
22 • Two-time Second-Team All-NFC selection (1983 and 1986).
23 • 1977 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
24 • 1977 NFL MVP.
25 • 1985 Bert Bell Award Winner as NFL Player of the Year.
26 • NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.
27 • NFL 1980s All-Decade Team.
28 • Pro Football Reference All-1980s First Team.
29 • #34 retired by Bears.
30 • Named to NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team in 1994.
31 • Named to Sporting News All-Century Team in 1999.
32 • Named to NFL 100 All-Time Team in 2019.
33 • Number eight on the Sporting News’ 1999 list of the 100 Greatest Players in NFL History.
34 • Number five on the NFL Network’s 2010 list of the NFL’s 100 Greatest Players.
35 • Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.
Having fallen just short of earning the top spot on this list, Dick Butkus lays claim to the number two position, edging out longtime teammate Gale Sayers for that distinction. In discussing Butkus, former NFL center Bill Curry, who competed against him as a member of the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts, said, “Dick Butkus is the greatest football player I ever saw. I’m convinced that he’s the greatest football player who ever lived.”
One of the most dominant and intimidating defensive players in the history of the game, Dick Butkus instilled fear into his opponents with his aggressive style of play, destroying anyone who stood in his path. Generally considered to be the finest middle linebacker in NFL history, Butkus earned eight Pro Bowl selections, six All-Pro nominations, and two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards during his nine seasons in Chicago, before being further honored following the conclusion of his playing career by being named to the NFL’s 75th