Jarrett Payton reflects on lifelong friendship with Steve McMichael

“My fondest memories really come later in life,” Jarrett said, “being a grownup and spending time with him and listening to him talk, being able to be coached by him but also hearing his stories and all his ‘Mongo-isms.’ And just how for the exterior and how everybody looked at him, the nickname Mongo, to get a chance to really know him and to see what was inside, he was a huge teddy bear.”

Jarrett witnessed that softer side of McMichael after suffering a pulled hamstring during a Slaughter game in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The injury ended Jarrett’s six-year pro football career, which included stints in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans, NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals and the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts.

“I was in the training room and the doctor was telling me, ‘I don’t think you can go back out there,'” Jarrett said. “I remember saying, ‘It’s done. It’s over. This is it.’ I’m sitting on a table and Steve’s back there crying; balling his eyes out because he knew that was the end for me and he knew what that moment feels like. I’ll never forget seeing him cry because I was used to seeing him smile and make everybody laugh. I’d never seen him cry. That was one of those moments that will stay in my memory forever.”

Another one of those moments no doubt will come Aug. 3 when Jarrett serves as McMichael’s official presenter at the Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony in Canton.

“It’s a special honor for me because there are so many people out there that have had an impact on Steve’s life, and he could have chosen anybody,” Jarrett said. “He felt like there was a strong connection between the two of us. He knew and trusted me with this honor. I’m just floored by that because the man is bigger than life and I think the only thing bigger than his personality is his heart.

“I’m just grateful for the time I’ve had to spend with him, especially in 2010 when I played for him on the Slaughter. That was a crucial moment in my life because I knew that my football career was almost over and that this was an opportunity for me to choose the path that I wanted to walk in life. I didn’t know what I wanted to do and he’s a big reason why I’m in the media business. He pushed me to do this. He pushed me to not be afraid and try this thing out and just go for it.”