Payton honored at halftime
Connie Payton and her son Jarrett and daughter Brittney were on the field at halftime as Walter Payton was honored by the Bears on the 10th anniversary of his tragic death in 1999.
The crowd at Soldier Field gave a long and loud salute during a video tribute of highlights of Payton's career and included comments from former Bears coach Mike Ditka, owner Virginia McCaskey and teammates Otis Wilson and Richard Dent.
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)
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The life of Walter Payton
"Wasn't that awesome?" Connie Payton asked the crowd that stood and roared. "Thank you for a special day."
She ended her brief speech with her two children saying, "We love you. And one more thing: Go Bears."
The emotion of the tribute carried into the locker room. Bears safety Danieal Manning said, "It was a special day, a special week because of the tribute to Walter Payton. Even before the game, we all learned a lot about his history with the Bears."
Payton's widow and children spoke after the halftime ceremony.
"A lot has happened in 10 years and I was worried about how emotional this day would by," Connie Payton said. "This is a special day with all of his fans."
She said that the family would never disrespect the servicemen, police and firemen that Soldier Field honors."
"I try to model myself after him every single day," son Jarrett said. "I was lucky enough to have the greatest football player ever and the greatest man on the face of the Earth for a dad. My dad was a true renaissance man. He was everything."
Payton's daughter Brittany never really got to see her dad play. "Looking at the Jumbotron, I truly realize what his legend meant. It's a sad day, but an awesome day because I see everyone loved him.