Matt Suhey Death, Obituary – Former Chicago Bears Fullback Dies at 68

CHICAGO — Matt Suhey, the former Chicago Bears fullback who helped define one of the most celebrated teams in NFL history, has died at the age of 68.

Suhey died Sunday, September 6, 2026, according to confirmation from the Chicago Bears. His death marks the loss of a respected member of the 1985 Bears championship team and a player remembered not only for his football career, but also for his close friendship with Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton.

Matt Suhey obituary details

Matt Suhey’s death

News of Matt Suhey’s death was confirmed Sunday, bringing tributes for a player whose contribution to the Chicago Bears extended well beyond his statistics.

Suhey spent his entire 10-season NFL career with the Bears after Chicago selected him in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He played 148 regular-season games and became one of the most dependable fullbacks of the franchise’s dominant period during the 1980s.

His most famous season came in 1985, when the Bears produced one of the most memorable championship campaigns in NFL history.

In Super Bowl XX against the New England Patriots, Suhey scored the game’s first touchdown on an 11-yard run. Chicago eventually won 46–10 to claim the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship.

Matt Suhey and Walter Payton

For many Bears fans, Suhey will forever be connected to Walter Payton.

Suhey served as Payton’s lead blocker for much of their time together in Chicago, sacrificing personal statistics for the work required to create opportunities for one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.

Their relationship also developed into a close friendship away from football.

When Payton became seriously ill in the late 1990s, Suhey remained close to him and helped his longtime friend during his illness. Following Payton’s death in 1999, Suhey remained connected to the Payton family.

That relationship became one of the most enduring personal stories surrounding the Bears’ championship era.

Matt Suhey’s football career

Born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, on July 7, 1958, Suhey grew up in one of Penn State football’s most notable families.

He played at Penn State from 1976 through 1979 and finished his college career with 2,818 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns. His performances earned him selection by the Chicago Bears with the 46th overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft.

Suhey went on to spend all 10 of his professional seasons in Chicago.

During his NFL career, he recorded 2,946 rushing yards, 20 rushing touchdowns, 2,113 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. He appeared in 148 regular-season games and became particularly valued for his blocking and physical style of play.

He retired from professional football following the 1989 season.

Remembering Matt Suhey

Suhey’s legacy is closely tied to the Bears team that captured the imagination of Chicago in the 1980s.

The 1985 championship roster included some of the most recognizable names in franchise history, but Suhey occupied a different kind of role. He was frequently asked to do the difficult work that did not always appear in the box score.

As Payton’s fullback and lead blocker, he helped create the running lanes that became a central part of Chicago’s offense.

His touchdown in Super Bowl XX, however, ensured that Suhey’s name would forever be part of the franchise’s championship history.

For Bears supporters, his death represents the passing of another important figure from one of the team’s defining eras.

Matt Suhey’s family and Penn State legacy

Football was deeply woven into Suhey’s family history.

His father, Steve Suhey, was a standout Penn State player and later became a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Matt was one of several members of the Suhey family to play for Penn State, continuing a football tradition that stretched across generations.

Matt’s son, Joe Suhey, also played football at Penn State from 2007 to 2011.

That family connection helped make Matt Suhey part of what has often been described as one of Penn State’s great football families.

What was Matt Suhey’s cause of death?

The official cause of Matt Suhey’s death has not been publicly disclosed in the reports confirming his death.

Some online reports have circulated claims about ALS, but those claims have not been established by an authoritative family statement or official announcement. They should therefore not be presented as confirmed cause of death.

Further information may become available if the family releases additional details.

Funeral and memorial arrangements

Funeral arrangements and details concerning a public memorial service for Matt Suhey had not been publicly announced in the initial reports of his death.

Any information regarding visitation, funeral services or a celebration of life should be confirmed through the family before publication.

Matt Suhey’s legacy

Matt Suhey’s career was built around teamwork.

He was not the player who accumulated the most headlines, but his importance to the Bears’ offense was clear to the teammates who played alongside him and the fans who watched him work.

He was a champion, a longtime Bear, a Penn State football standout and a trusted friend of Walter Payton.

Decades after the 1985 Bears lifted the Lombardi Trophy, Suhey remained closely associated with one of the greatest periods in Chicago sports history.

His death at 68 leaves behind a legacy that reaches from Penn State to Soldier Field and, most importantly, to the people who knew him beyond the football field.

Disclaimer

This obituary is based on publicly reported information concerning Matt Suhey’s death. His death at age 68 was confirmed by the Chicago Bears and reported by multiple news organizations. The cause of death had not been publicly disclosed at the time of publication, and unverified claims circulating online have not been presented as fact. Funeral and memorial arrangements may be updated when officially released.