Biggs: Bears to honor Payton at halftime Sunday

The Chicago Bears will honor one of the greatest players in franchise history at halftime of their game on Sunday vs. the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field.

Walter Payton will be commemorated in a ceremony on the 10-year anniversary of his death. Payton died of a bile duct cancer on Nov. 1, 1999, at the age of 45.

His family, including his mother Alyne, are expected to take part in the ceremony that will include a video tribute. The Payton family will be accompanied on the field by his former teammates Matt Suhey and Dennis Gentry.

The NFL named its man of the year award after Payton following his death.

The Chicago Park District, which owns and operates Soldier Field, refused to allow a statue of Payton to be erected outside the stadium earlier this season. Previously, Payton was the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.

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