Honoring NFL History : Why The Number 34 Should Be Retired

February 21, 2010   ·   Dustin Brown   ·   Jump to comments

The Player
As all die-hard Bears' fans know, Walter Payton was a blessing for the lives of many people. The number 34 is widely used in honor of one special player that changed football as we know it. 
Any NFL fanatic is aware of how valuable the running back position has the potential to be. From grinding out 100+ yard games, to only being used to spice things up in a spread out offense, the tailback can change games.
Walter Payton wasn't either of those..no, with the help of his offensive line and his heart, he single handedly could win games.
His Legacy
The Chicago Bears drafted "Sweetness" in 1975 as a fourth overall pick. Chicago greatly needed another running back as they had endured losing seasons after the iconic Gale Sayers retired in 1972.
Payton needed some time to gradually mature into their dream running back, however. In his first game, Walter was held to zero net yards on eight rushing attempts. Payton then finished the season on a high n...

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