Michael Payton

Michael Payton (March 5, 1970 – September 27, 2018) was an American football quarterback. He played college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd, where he won the 1992 Walter Payton Award. After college, he played one season in the Arena Football League (AFL) for the Florida Bobcats.

College football Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Payton attended Central Dauphin East High School and was spotted by Marshall University coach George Chaump. He later said, "I loved the place and loved the people. They stand behind the athletes." In 1991, he completed 222 passes on 346 attempts for 3,392 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Payton also set the Division I-AA record for season passing efficiency and was named Southern Conference Player of the Year. He was awarded the Walter Payton Award for that year and was a consensus first-team All-American. Payton again led Marshall to the I-AA title contest, where they defeated Youngstown State in the 1992 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game, giving Marshall their first I-AA title. He was again named Southern Conference Player of the Year, West Virginia Athlete of the Year and Man of the Year. Payton is Marshall's fourth highest ever passer with 9.411 career yards-gained (exceeding the previous record by more than 2,300 yards) and their fifth highest all-time scorer with 69 career touchdowns.

Payton was inducted in the Marshall University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. In January 2015, Payton was one of 17 players elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Personal life Payton was active with the charities Drug Abuse Resistance Education and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He was also a senior counsellor for Alternative Rehabilitation Communities, a personal trainer and life coach. Payton was also a voter in the FWAA-NFF Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll. He had received twelve separate treatments for the disease.

Michael Payton Memorial Quarterback Award Payton was a member of the Board of Advisors of the Mr. Pennsylvania Football program. The Michael Payton Memorial Quarterback Award was established in his honor. Recipients have displayed academic, athletic, and moral leadership. The award is presented at the annual banquet by members of his family.