Matt Suhey Dies at 68, NFL Legend Won Super Bowl with Bears in 1985

Former Chicago Bears fullback Matt Suhey died Sunday at the age of 68.

Suhey spent his entire 10-year career in the Windy City. Across 148 appearances, he ran for 2,946 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was on the famed 1985 squad that won a Super Bowl title and had an 11-yard touchdown run in the 46-10 blowout of the New England Patriots.

Clearing running lanes for Walter Payton was Suhey's most frequent duty on the field. The Athletic's Dan Pompei detailed in 2024 how the pair eventually forged a strong connection off the field.

Payton and Suhey drifted apart as their playing careers ended. The former retired after the 1987 season and the latter was out of the league two years later.

As Payton went through his cancer battle resulting in his death in 1999, the one-time teammates reconnected. According to Pompei, Suhey would drive Payton to appointments or on random errands, and they would spend time together at Payton's home.

"Walter was a loner," Connie Payton said of her late husband. "There weren't a lot of people he would hang out with. He was strange like that. But I knew Matt was special to him and near to his heart because he allowed him to be in his space."

Prior to the Bears selecting him in the second round of the 1980 NFL draft, Suhey played four years at Penn State. He had 3,146 yards from scrimmage and 28 touchdowns in 42 games.