Most people know Jarrett Payton for the obvious association. His father was the legendary running back
Walter Payton, probably the greatest in
Chicago Bears history. The man is revered to this day by fans, even those who never got to see him play. People often forget that Jarrett played in the NFL too. He had a breakout year at the University of Miami in 2003, winning Orange Bowl MVP honor. That earned him an undrafted free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans.
After failing to crack the main roster in 2004, he was sent to NFL Europe to play for the Amsterdam Admirals. He ran for 578 yards on just 104 carries that season, helping the team win the World Bowl championship. That earned him another shot with the Titans, this time making the team. Payton appeared in 13 games, scoring two touchdowns while averaging 3.2 yards per carry. He was cut the following off-season. Most people know that was the end of his NFL run. He resurfaced in Canada a year later and spent three seasons there. Except, that isn't the entire story. He had a chance to join another team after leaving Tennessee.
Unfortunately, it was the one team he refused to play for.
Jarrett Payton is loyal to his core, and that's awesome.
Most players would've jumped at the opportunity to play for the Green Bay Packers. They still had Brett Favre and were grooming Aaron Rodgers at the time. They'd be in the NFC championship game a year later. If Payton had taken the opportunity, he could've extended his career. Instead, he stayed true to his father's legacy. Walter Payton built much of his iconic legacy on steamrolling the Packers. There was no team he ran for more yards or scored more touchdowns against than them.
In return, they tried more than once to injure him intentionally. The rivalry was real in those days. Jarrett Payton grew up in the middle of it. So it's only natural he would develop a hatred for all things green and gold. Turning down a shot to stay in the NFL and keep earning pretty good money says it all. Things turned out great for him. He's a highly respected member of Bears media now, carving out his own legacy for WGN. Clearly, he doesn't regret his decision, and that is what matters.
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