AllMovie

This documentary looks at the inspiring career of football great Walter Payton, who died November 1, 1999, of liver cancer. Nicknamed "Sweetness" for the way he ran with the football and his pleasing personality, Payton entered the league in 1975 and was the driving force of the Chicago Bears for 13 seasons, missing only one game in all those years. Although he retired from pro football in 1987, Payton still owns many NFL rushing records. His single-game record of 275 yards, set in 1977, was broken only in the 2000 NFL season. The story follows the National Football League's all-time leading rusher from his humble beginnings in poverty in rural Mississippi, through record-setting performances at Jackson State College, to stardom with the Bears. Along with rare interviews and college footage, the film includes the most comprehensive collection of Payton's professional football highlights.