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NFL-92             1/25/00

Former Chicago Bears running back and NFL all-time rushing leader WALTER PAYTON has been voted NFL Player of the Century by fans in a poll conducted on nfl.com.

Payton played for the Bears from 1975-87 and rushed for an NFL record 16,726 yards. He was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, his first year of eligibility.

NFL Player of the Century voting took place on nfl.com. Since December 1, more than 600,000 votes were cast.

Payton also holds the NFL career records for rushing yards in a game with 275 vs. Minnesota on November 20, 1977, combined yards with 21,803, and combined attempts (most touches) with 4,368.

At the time of his retirement, Payton’s 110 rushing touchdowns were the most all time (currently third) and his 125 total touchdowns ranked second (currently fifth).

"I thought Walter Payton was the greatest football player who ever lived," said FOX NFL analyst JOHN MADDEN. "He did it better than anyone. And he had more fun – and that combination is a treasure."

Payton was born in Columbia, Mississippi on July 25, 1954 and attended Jackson State. He died in 1999.

"In the eyes of many, he was the greatest football player of all time," said Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE at Payton’s memorial service at Soldier Field in Chicago this past November. "He was a warrior on the field. But he also was in many ways what we don’t expect a superstar to be – open, accessible, genuine, down to earth, a unifier and a binder, never divisive."