VIDEO: Walter Payton playing quarterback for the Bears

One of the reasons Walter Payton was such a great running back was his versatility. He was fast and slippery, but he could also run through defenders with his brute strength.

It became clear early in Payton’s career that with his tremendous athletic ability and knowledge of the game he could be more than just a running back. In this video from 1984, head coach Mike Ditka subbed Payton in at quarterback for backup Rusty Lisch.

With his Chicago Bears trailing the Green Bay Packers 7-0 in the third quarter, Payton drove the offense down the field and threw a touchdown pass that would tie the game to running back Matt Suhey.

Throughout Payton’s 13-year career he threw eight touchdown passes, which ranks second in the record books for most touchdowns thrown by a non-quarterback.

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