Career
He also played in the Canadian Football League. He is the older brother of the late Chicago Bears player Walter Payton. Payton played college football at Jackson State University and signed undrafted by the Browns.
Payton was primarily used as a kick and punt returner.
He led the NFL with 53 kickoffs for 1184 yards in 1980. Payton ran back two kickoffs and one punt return for touchdowns in his career, two in the same game.
On December 17, 1977, Payton ran a kick return and a punt return for a touchdown for the Lions in a game against the Vikings. Eddie Payton is currently the head golf coach at Jackson State, coaching both the men"s and women"s teams.