The newly dedicated statue of Chicago Bears and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton stands outside Soldier Field during an unveiling ceremony of statues honoring George Halas and Payton, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Bears have unveiled statues of Walter Payton and George Halas at Soldier Field, two days before the team opens the 100th season of the NFL with a home game against the rival Green Bay Packers.
Each 12-foot statue is 3,000 pounds. One shows Payton, the Hall of Fame running back who died in1999 at the age of 45 from cancer, and the other is of Halas, the team's founder, owner and head coach who led the franchise to six NFL titles. Halas died in 1983 at the age of 88.
The two were honored Tuesday during a ceremony that included Halas' daughter, Virginia Halas McCaskey, Payton's children, Jarrett and Brittney and former Bears coach Mike Ditka.
The fourth pick in the 1975 draft, Payton spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Bears. He retired following the 1987 season as the league's all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards.
"I played with 'Sweetness' for nine years," former teammate Dan Hampton said. "Every single day- and every one of the players that are here today and coach Ditka will tell you the same thing - Walter proved why he was not only the greatest player on the greatest team of all time, but he was exemplary in all walks of life."
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Chicago Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey, daughter of Bears' founder George S. Halas, is driven past the newly dedicated statue of her father after an unveiling ceremony outside Soldier Field of statues honoring Halas and Walter Payton Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Former Chicago Bears tight end and Pro Football Hall of fame head coach Mike Ditka addresses the crowd during an unveiling ceremony outside Soldier Field of statues honoring George Halas and Walter Payton Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Former Chicago Bears and Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Dam Hampton, addresses the crowd during an unveiling ceremony outside Soldier Field of statues honoring George Halas and Walter Payton Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Brittney Payton, daughter of former Chicago Bears and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, right, and her brother Jarrett, left, present sculptor Chad Fisher with a gift during an unveiling ceremony outside Soldier Field of statues honoring George Halas and their father Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
The newly dedicated statue of Chicago Bears founder George S. Halas stands outside Soldier Field during an unveiling ceremony of statues honoring Halas and Walter Payton Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
The newly dedicated statue of Chicago Bears founder George S. Halas stands outside Soldier Field during a unveiling ceremony of statues honoring Halas and Walter Payton Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Chicago Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey, daughter of Bears' founder George S. Halas, speaks during a unveiling ceremony outside Soldier Field of statues honoring her father and Walter Payton Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Chicago Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey, daughter of Bears' founder George S. Halas, stands with her son, George, before addressing the crowd during a unveiling ceremony outside Soldier Field of statues honoring her father and Walter Payton Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
Brittney Payton, daughter of former Chicago Bears and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, and her brother Jarrett, address the crowd during a unveiling ceremony outside Soldier Field of statues honoring George Halas and their father Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
The newly dedicated statue of Chicago Bears and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton stands outside Soldier Field during a unveiling ceremony of statues honoring George Halas and Payton, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
The newly dedicated statue of Chicago Bears founder George S. Halas stands outside Soldier Field during a unveiling ceremony of statues honoring Halas and Walter Payton Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
The newly dedicated statue of Chicago Bears and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton stands outside Soldier Field during a unveiling ceremony of statues honoring George Halas and Payton, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
The grandchildren of Chicago Bears and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton pose under his newly dedicated statue after an unveiling ceremony outside Soldier Field of statues honoring George Halas and Payton Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press