He took an early retirement in 1987 as he was diagnosed and treated for an aggressive form of liver cancer. Payton hardly ever lost any battles in the field, but unfortunately, Payton lost this battle. Due to this, he passed away on 1st November 1999.
So, as Payton has some remarkable achievements in his career, let’s get a deeper dive and find when and why Walter Payton took early retirement.
When did Walter Payton retire from football?
There are debates on whether or not Walter Payton officially took retirement from the team or whether he had to end his career because of his terminal illness. Some say he never took an official retirement, while others have differing views.
However, it is notable that Alter Payton retired in 1987 after playing as one of the best runner-backs the Chicago Bears ever had. He joined the team in 1978, and ever since then, he has remained loyal to the Bears. At the time of retirement, Payton was an All-time- leading rusher. Payton was also given Man of the Year as an honorary award.
Payton carried his award of being the all-time leading rusher for 15 years till Emmit Smith broke his record in 2002.
Why did Walter Payton retire?
There are multiple theories about why Payton retired, some more obvious than others. There are 3 possible causes for why Payton retired in 1987:
Drug abuse:
As a sportsperson, whether you like it or not, medicinal drugs are a big part of your life. Payton took several painkillers daily because of injuries in the field. It is believed that because of those drugs, Payton had a history of drug abuse, because of which he had to retire.
However, regardless of whether this was the reason for his retirement, Walter Payton was going through substance abuse and also continued taking drugs after his retirement when he had no injuries. However, he was being treated for a terminal illness and could have been taking painkillers for that, too.
Suicide attempts
All the rushers of baseball, Walter Payton, with all the fame, money, and fans, Payton eas believed to be suicidal and depressed. Whether it was the effects of the disease, the fact that he was weaker to play physically, or the drug abuse. Payton had thought of attempting suicide and was clinically depressed, according to his symptoms.
Although he was called Sweetness, he had a dark side to him. The attempts of suicide were reported as he had a gun pointing at him. A friend reports that Payton would call them and say that “he is not loved” or the world’s better off without him. He also said, one day, you will wake up and won’t see me again. Soon, they lost Payton to the most aggressive form of disease.
Liver cancer
Lastly, Payton was diagnosed with a rare liver disease, which, although treated, caused inflammation in the walls of the liver, which piled up bile inside. The acidity of the bile caused more harm.
As the rare liver disease, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis PSC worsened, so did his condition. Because of it, he got the most aggressive form of cancer in the liver. Because of such a terminal illness, he was undergoing multiple surgeries and treatment plans, which caused hindrances with the games.
Because of cancer, Payton was physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted and weaker than usual; he wasn’t able to play to his potential, and thus, he had to leave the game altogether.
Walter Payton gave the best years of his life to this game as he was one of the best players in baseball, as seen today. Towards the end, Payton was suffering through illness as well as exhaustion from all the chemotherapy and wouldn’t have been able to keep up with the game. So, it answers the question of when Payton retired. Walter Payton retired in 1987 because of his terminal illness, Liver Cancer.
NFL’s all-time leading rusher:
Regardless of the painful situation, Payton left his legacy. He became the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1975 and quickly secured his place as the league’s most dominant running back. Season after season, he shattered records.
He was the first person ever to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season in 1977, a feat that wasn’t replicated for over ten years. He led the league in rushing yards nine times and had a staggering 16,726 yards by the end of the 1982 season, a record that stood for over 30 years.
However, Payton’s contributions were beyond numbers. He was a leader on and off the field, inspiring his teammates with his dedication, work ethic, strength, and philanthropic work. His never-ending love and enthusiasm for the game made him the hero in the eyes of Chicago fans.
Payton was also the man of the match when the Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl in 1985. Although the Bears would reach the playoffs, they would need more time. Eventually, the Bears secured Payton in the 1985 Super Bowl because of Payton’s efforts.
Payton suffered a brutal injury in 1985 that was thought of as his career-ending injury, but he made a full recovery and came back better than ever. Unfortunately, he retired 2 years after that.
Walter Payton’s Philanthropic legacy:
Payton did not just leave a football legacy behind. He also was a dedicated, selfless, and generous person. Who wanted to give back to his community as much as he could.
According to him, the Payton Connie Foundation was made in 1989, one of the biggest milestones. This foundation helped multiple children in various causes like:
Education
The organization helped in providing educational programs and scholarships for underprivileged youth. It gave them new opportunities to study and aim for a secure future.
Health
It opened the doors to providing better healthcare and arranged various health awareness programs.
Community development
The organization focused on community-building projects, more philanthropic work, and creating awareness about the importance of community and how to support them.
Organ donor awareness
This was close to Payton, as he needed an organ transplant because of health problems. He tried to ensure that nobody had to go through it, so multiple awareness campaigns were held.
There were other once-in-a-while occasions like Christmas drives, charity collections, leadership workshops, etc.
Walter Payton’s final days:
Even though Payton was diagnosed with the disease beforehand, he continued playing till his strength gave up. So, when did Walter Payton retire? It was 1987; he had given his all physically, emotionally, and mentally to society and the game.
Payton called for a press conference and announced the contraction of the deadly diseases. He said he was scared and was fighting his battle against it. Payton’s chances of a liver transplant were shattered because of the rare liver cancer, which inhibited him from getting a transplant. Payton’s fate was sealed.
Payton passed away on 1st November 1999. His service was held in the Chicago soldier’s field to pay homage to the player. He was cremated and buried next to his mother in Chicago, his home ground.
Conclusion for when did Walter Payton retire?
Conclusively, Walter Payton retired in 1875. He was one of the best players in the world of baseball, and he was a humble, kind, and generous person who always put his community first. Payton’s remarkable career highlights his scores and achievements and how his records remained unshattered for years. The legend’s work spoke a million words.
Walter Payton is a true idol for baseball fans as he was dedicated, hard-working, and able to achieve anything he put his mind to. After all these years, Payton’s style and techniques are still being looked upon. Undoubtedly, Walter Payton was and will be one of the best cornerbacks in baseball.
FAQs
Payton had a rare liver condition, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC ), which led to an aggressive form of bile duct cancer. He passed away from bile duct cancer.
Payton’s football career started in his college, Jackson State University, in 1971. He quickly gained national attention as he had the set of skills required. He was recruited by the Chicago Bears in 1975. and was an official NFL player.