Former Chicago Bears fullback and Super Bowl champion Matt Suhey passed away on Sunday at 68 years old. That’s a tough loss for anyone who watched the game in the 80s, especially for Bears fans who remember him during that dominant run.
A Decade of Grit and Glory
Suhey was a true pro, spending his entire career with the Bears after being a second-round pick back in 1980. He played through ’89, ten years of grinding it out, and became best known as the absolute beast of a lead blocker for the legendary Hall of Famer, Walter Payton. Those two weren’t just teammates, they became great friends, a bond you don’t always see. Suhey wasn’t just clearing paths either; he racked up 2,946 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns himself. Plus, he showed he had hands, pulling in 2,113 receiving yards and another five receiving touchdowns over his career. Talk about doing it all, right? His impact was clear when he scored the very first touchdown in Super Bowl XX, helping the Bears crush the New England Patriots 46-10. What a moment for him.
More Than Just a Blocker, a Mentor
It’s clear Suhey was a fan favorite during the Bears’ sustained success in the 1980s. He was also hugely popular in the locker room, a guy his teammates genuinely respected. You know it’s true when a guy like Jimbo Covert, who got elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021, picked Suhey to be his presenter. Covert’s words from 2020 really hit home about the kind of man Matt Suhey was: “He was kind of a mentor. I learned a lot from him about what it meant to be a pro… And I think it’s a way to have Walter [Payton] a part of it as well because they were so close, and I just feel it’s appropriate to have them both with Matt as the lead.” That tells you everything you need to know about the legacy he built.
Matt Suhey’s passing leaves a void, but his career as a devoted teammate, a Super Bowl champ, and a true mentor lives on in those who played with him.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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