Welcome to the latest installment of my weekly "Lunch with Larry," which features wide-ranging conversations with Bears-related guests about their lives and careers.
This week my special guest is Jarrett Payton, the son of legendary Hall of Famer Walter Payton. I spoke with Jarrett about his father's impact, presenting his father for induction into the Hall of Fame and much more.
Walter Payton played his entire illustrious career with the Bears from 1975-87, retiring as the NFL's all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards. "Sweetness" is widely recognized as the greatest Bears player of all time. Sadly, he passed away Nov. 1, 1999, at the age of 45 due to bile duct cancer.
Every week I will select the best "Lunch with Larry" fan question, with the winner receiving a Connie's Pizza gift card. The question of the week can be found at the bottom of this article.
Jarrett is amazed by the impact his father had not only on the game of football but on fans all over the world. He loves seeing No. 34 jerseys sprinkled throughout Soldier Field and will never forget bumping into a fan on a street in London wearing his father's jersey when the Bears played there in 2019. He also recalls the moment his father realized how much he meant to fans long after he retired.
Jarrett was only 12 years old when he became the first son in Hall of Fame history to present his father for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. He told me he initially didn't want to do it because he was terrified of public speaking, but his dad convinced him that he'd be fine if he practiced repeatedly. Jarrett realized that his dad employed the same mentality to become an all-time NFL great.
Three decades after presenting his father for induction into the Hall of Fame, Jarrett served in the same capacity earlier this year for former Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael. Jarrett was a toddler when he first met McMichael and always considered him like an uncle. But their bond grew years later when McMichael coached Jarrett with the Chicago Slaughter indoor football team.
Jarrett didn't play football until his junior year at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights. He describes soccer as his "first true love" and excelled at the sport. His father loved watching him play soccer and never pressured him into playing football. Jarrett eventually switched to football because he wanted an even closer connection with his father and to try something new.
Jarrett reached the NFL, playing in 13 games with the Tennessee Titans in 2005. He wanted to create his own identity but always embraced who is father was, not only as a football player but as someone who always supported charitable causes. Jarrett didn't switch to No. 34 at the University of Miami until after his father passed away, but he was proud to wear the same jersey number as his dad.
Here's the "Lunch with Larry" fan question of the week, submitted by Paul F., who asks: "Did your dad ever make you run his hill sprints on the Pearl River when you were growing up?"
Jarrett's answer: I never ran the hill in Arlington Heights or the Pearl River with him. I was so young. But I would go with him to the hill in Arlington Heights to watch back in the day.
In closing, I'd like to thank Jarrett for discussing his life with me. I've known him since he was a kid and he's grown up to be a great man and talented sportscaster. His smile and positive demeanor are infectious. As a father of three sons myself, I know how incredibly proud his father would be of him.
