A fitting tribute for a legend!
Walter “Sweetness” Payton may have left this world nearly three decades ago, but his legacy continues to run strong, on the field, in the community, and now, back at the place where it all began.
During Jackson State University’s May 3rd commencement ceremony, the NFL legend was posthumously awarded a Golden Diploma from his alma mater, Black Enterprise reports. The honor came as JSU celebrated the 50th reunion of the Class of 1975, recognizing Payton among 97 alumni in the esteemed “Golden Class.”
His older brother, Eddie Payton, accepted the diploma on his behalf and delivered heartfelt remarks that echoed the pride and power of the moment.
“I couldn’t think of anything that I would rather have done than be here in Walter’s place,” he said. “I know if he would have been here, he would have been front and center with a big smile on his face.”
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That smile is one remembered by fans across the globe, first as a record-breaking running back for Jackson State, and later as a Chicago Bears icon whose name is now synonymous with excellence and grace. At JSU, Walter Payton rushed for 3,563 yards, scored 464 points, and was named Black College Player of the Year in both 1973 and 1974. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry, a number that still turns heads.
After joining the NFL in 1975, Payton went on to earn the league’s MVP award in 1977, set a single-game rushing record of 275 yards, and helped lead the 1985 Chicago Bears to one of the most dominant seasons in football history. At the time of his retirement in 1987, he held the NFL’s all-time rushing record with 16,726 yards, alongside nine Pro Bowl selections and five All-Pro honors.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996, and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2010. But for many, his biggest contribution came off the field. After his passing, the NFL renamed its Man of the Year Award to honor Payton, celebrating players who exemplify leadership and philanthropy, traits Payton embodied long before his name adorned a trophy.
Payton died of bile duct cancer on November 1, 1999, at the age of 46. Still, his impact refuses to dim.
By awarding him the Golden Diploma, Jackson State didn’t just celebrate one of its greatest athletes, it reaffirmed its role in shaping a legacy that changed football forever and continues to inspire future generations.
Cover photo: NFL Legend Walter Payton Honored With Golden Diploma From Jackson State University/Photo credit: Associated Press/LA Sentinel