If you recall I posted about Mike Singletary making USA Today's list of the top 25 players of the last 25 years. Singletary came in at #17. As you would expect the legendary Walter Payton placed high on the list at #2.
At the time of his retirement after the 1987 season, Payton was the NFL record-holder in career rushing yards, career yards from scrimmage, career rushing touchdowns, rushing yards in one game and most seasons with 1,000 or more rushing yards. He missed just one game to injury in his 13-year career.
Payton broke Jim Brown's 19-year-old record for rushing yards (12,312) in 1984. By the time he retired, Payton exceeded Brown's standard by more than 4,000 yards. Emmitt Smith eclipsed Payton in 2002.
The only player to rank higher than Payton is Joe Montana.