Leaders Playing Up: The Uncommon Greatness of Walter Payton

Growing up in Alaska, where you have to pick your teams early and stick with them, I went all-in on Chicago. As an ‘80s kid, that meant the Bears, Bulls, Cubs, and Blackhawks. The Bears of that era were larger than life—straight out of the movies. Clark Griswold rocking a Bears hat in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Even a nod in The Princess Bride (RIP Rob Reiner). Fun fact: the Bible mentions “bears” numerous times. Packers? Zero.

With the Bears looking stronger than their typical this season at 10-4 and another showdown against the Packers coming up this Saturday, it felt like a good time for this post. I wish I’d been a bit older to fully appreciate Walter Payton. I had his jersey, of course, and my dad would negotiate extended bedtimes with my mom whenever the Bears were on Monday Night Football. But I was too young to grasp his true greatness in real time.

Payton’s Greatness: Stats Don’t Lie, But the Film Tells the Story

Walter Payton’s career numbers are legendary, even without watching the tape of him running with that reckless, unrelenting abandon. He retired as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards on 3,838 carries (4.4 yards per carry average), 110 rushing touchdowns, and a Super Bowl ring with the ‘85 Bears. Add in 492 receptions for 4,538 yards, and he finished with over 21,000 yards from scrimmage. At 5’10” and 200 pounds—undersized for a workhorse back—he averaged nearly 88 yards per game across 190 contests.

He was the ultimate all-purpose threat: a punishing runner, willing blocker, reliable receiver out of the backfield, and even threw 8 touchdown passes in his career. His infamous hill workouts in the Mississippi heat are still the stuff of legend—preparing him for that signature grit.

My recent deep dive confirmed a hypothesis I’d been mulling: Payton performed even better against the Green Bay Packers than his career averages. In 24 games against Chicago’s bitterest rival, he racked up 2,484 rushing yards on 534 carries—that’s about 103 yards per game and a higher yards-per-carry rate, plus 19 touchdowns. He elevated when the stakes were highest.

One standout: In 1977, he torched the Packers for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns on a brutal day in Green Bay.

(Note: Before Michael Jordan had his Flu/Food Poison game, Payton was the Chicago sports icon that did it first. His iconic “flu game” with 275 yards and the single-game record came against the Vikings that same year. Payton had a fever of 102 against another rival. His yards more than double his temp.)

Is he the GOAT running back? Many Bears fans say yes without hesitation. I don’t know that I can say that. All-timer? Absolutely, no debate.

Why It Mattered: Leadership in the NFL’s Greatest Rivalry

Payton wasn’t just great—he was a leader who understood the stakes. He knew the Bears-Packers rivalry wasn’t just divisional trash talk; it’s the most historic in the NFL, dating back over a century, with more combined Hall of Famers (over 70 between the two franchises) than any other matchup. It’s defined the league itself. Consider this. You might not have known the Payton’s stats were better against the Packers than his career average. But I almost guarantee you would if they were worse…

Great leaders recognize what the moment demands. Payton knew this game shook cities, fans, and legacies. He was willing to be the first to bleed, to fight for every inch on those lonely, punishing runs. In a test of wills, he ensured the opposition knew they’d been in a war—even if they won the day.

That’s uncommon. That’s set apart. That’s leaving no doubt.

Payton once said: “When you’re good, you tell everyone. When you’re great, they tell you.” Even Packers fans tipped their caps to Sweetness—he gave them everything, every time.

Walter Payton didn’t just carry the ball—he carried the weight of expectation, and that kind of pressure is a lonely place to live. Leadership and leaving a legacy can be lonely. I’ve heard it said that loneliness is a type of tax levied against the complex mind. The kind of mind necessary to carry greatness into the most urgent times.

Finding Your Urgency: Lessons for Leaders Today

I lead an organization full of talented, dedicated people. We’ve got big challenges ahead—our own “Green Bay games,” our Super Bowls. We feel the urgency. We know the stakes.

I’ve said it before: I’d put this team up against anyone, any field, any conditions, any time. We’ve trained on those hills, put in the isolation and sacrifice. We’re ready to run hard, fight for every yard, every inch. You put us in a fair fight and I like our chances straight up. I detest the weak who run the back channels because they know that straight up - quality vs. quality, performance vs. performance, capability vs capability - they fail to measure up. They are Tonya Harding.

Like Payton, I have no issue being the first to look the opposition in the eye and declare: We won’t go quietly. We won’t run out of bounds. We’ll deliver hits as much as we take them. I have to respect Payton’s greatest rivals. They didn’t try to disqualify him. They played him straight up. Man to man. The weak try to use administration and influence to win. The worthy opponents take your best, give you their best, and let the outcome be what the outcome will be.

Ultimately, Payton played up against the Packers. His YPC, YPG, and TDs per carry were all higher than his career averages. His record was 17 - 7 against the most bitter foe. They gave him their best. And he gave them his. That’s leadership.

Leaders: Be uncommon. Be set apart. Be fierce. See the urgency in front of you. Rise in your most critical moments. That’s what separates the greats. That’s where your legacy is solidified.

As a lifelong Bears fan, I’ll never feel fully confident heading into a Packers game—the last couple decades have taught us humility. But this year? The tide feels like it’s turning. The grit is back. Win or lose, I expect a fierce battle for every inch this Saturday.

That’s how it should be.

Loved writing this one.

Josh

PS…Look at next post about Rocky. How obvious is it that I was a product of the 80s?