On Monday, Bears great Matt Forte announced he would be signing a one-day contract to officially retire as a member of the team he spent 10 terrific seasons with. An obvious decision considering Forte ranks second in Bears history behind only Walter Payton in rushing yards (8,602), receiving yards by a running back (4,116), yards from scrimmage (12,718) and 100-yard rushing games (24).
So it seems even MORE fitting that Forte would pay homage to arguably the greatest football player to ever don blue and orange at the hill that made it all possible for the man they call Sweetness.
“The Hill,” “Payton’s Hill,” “Arlington Heights Hill,” “Walter Payton’s Hill,” or whatever you fancy calling it, is famous among Chicago fans for the grueling conditioning regimen crafted by Payton over years of running up and down it– whether in rain, sleet, sunshine, or snow.
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Payton not only swore by the hill, he largely credited his career to it, and many Bears have followed in his footsteps running exactly where he did so many times– including current Bears running back Jordan Howard.
As the flagship franchise of the NFL, the Chicago Bears are inherently steeped in tradition– and “The Hill” is just one more perfect way to honor the man and franchise who made it all possible for one of the most exciting players Bears fans have ever seen.
Here you can find Walter Payton speaking about the hill himself on a tribute video found on Youtube–
