Jarrett Payton Hangs It Up

Unless it starts anew with another generation, the era ofthe Payton family running backs is over.

Jarrett Payton, son of Bears icon Walter Payton, has retired.

He has decided to hang up his shoulder pads at age 30, although he might have been able to make it to 34, thereby matching the jersey number that he and his father wore.

Jarrett Payton’s career included stops in the NFL, NFL Europe, the CFL and most recently with the Steve McMichael-coached Slaughter of the Indoor Football League after he played college ball at Miami (Fla.). All that after being a soccer star at St. Viator.

‘‘It’s been a long time, a long road, a long journey,’’ he told Quick Hits. ‘‘I played for the fans. They were the reason why I went to the stadium every day. Without them, I was nothing.

‘‘I did a lot of things most people wish they could do. I would have thought soccer would have taken me all over the world. But football took me to Amsterdam, Tennessee, Miami and Canada.

‘‘It was a big decision, but life goes on. There are other things that I want to accomplish.’’

Among them is to become an accomplished broadcaster. He has a show on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with Ernie Scatton from 10 a.m. to noon on chicagolandsportsradio.com.

Something says football isn’t entirely out of Jarrett’s system.

‘‘If I have a boy, and he wants to play football, I’ll coach him to the day that I die,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t want to go to games anymore. I don’t want to sit in the stands till I have a son or a daughter that wants to play sports.’’

Click here to order Jarrett Payton’s proCane Rookie Card.



(suntimes.com)