He was nursing a sore elbow, but there was great anticipation for Walter Payton’s rookie debut in Soldier Field against the Baltimore Colts. He ended up with zero yards in eight carries in a 35-7 loss that spoiled coach Jack Pardee’s first day on the job but did little to dampen enthusiasm for Payton.
“Zero yards, but it was like I’d just watched someone gain 150,” said teammate Mike Adamle, obtained that week from the New York Jets. “He made a couple of moves in the backfield after he was trapped for losses just to get back to the line of scrimmage and I said, `This guy’s great.’ And he got zero yards.”
The yards would not come easy all season, only 679 at an average of 3.5 a carry, the lowest average Payton would ever have. He got zero yards in 10 carries against the Detroit Lions and two yards in four carries against the Los Angeles Rams.
“Walter thinks every time he touches the football he has to score a touchdown,” running backs coach Fred O’Connor said.
Payton led the league in kickoff returns with a 31.7-yard average, but Pardee took him off that duty after he got knocked out against the Rams.
Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pardee and O’Connor played Adamle and let Payton rest a sore ankle. It would be the only game he ever missed, and he never accepted it.
“Excuse me, an ankle?” Payton later said. “I played once after getting my ankle taped three times. Taped the skin without pre-wrap because they said it would hold better. Put on my sock and taped it again. Then I put on my shoe and had it spatted. Gained 100-something yards, scored a couple of touchdowns. If you’re ready to play and the coach won’t let you, is that a missed game?”
Payton started only seven games, but his 134 yards against the New Orleans Saints in the season finale was the best by a Bear running back since before Gale Sayers got hurt in 1968. The Bears finished 4-10, but there was hope.
“That’s when I thought he got over the hump,” Pardee said. “He played like a champ that game. Played the whole game and played tough. He toughened up that day.”
Said General Manager Jim Finks: “Walter has a chance. To me, durability is the test of greatness.”
———-
Payton concludes his rookie season with 134 yards in 25 carries and runs 54 yards for a touchdown in a 42-17 victory at New Orleans.
December 21
1975
ATTEMPTS YARDS AVERAGE TD
196 679 3.5 7
