Matt Suhey, the hard-nosed fullback who anchored the Chicago Bears' running game through the 1980s and scored the opening touchdown of Super Bowl XX, has died at 68. His passing was announced this weekend; teammates told the Chicago Tribune that Suhey died in his sleep Saturday night.
Ten Seasons in Chicago and a Role That Defined an Era
Suhey spent his entire 10-year NFL career (1980-1989) in Chicago after the Bears selected him in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft, 46th overall, following a standout stint at Penn State.
Throughout the decade, Suhey developed a reputation as a dependable, physical fullback who did the dirty work — opening lanes and absorbing blocks — that allowed the offense’s featured runners to thrive. Headtopics noted that Suhey opened up running lanes for Walter Payton across the first eight years of his career and helped pave the way for Payton to reach the century mark in six of those seasons.
That style of play made Suhey a fan favorite and a respected presence in the locker room. Teammates and opponents alike viewed him as a steady, unflashy force who delivered consistent effort every down.
Super Bowl XX: Opening the Scoring and Cementing a Legacy
Suhey’s imprint on the franchise’s most famous game came in Super Bowl XX, when he scored the contest’s first touchdown and helped set the tone for the Bears’ dominant performance. He finished the game with 11 carries for 52 yards and helped Chicago to a blowout victory over the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl.
The opening score in the Super Bowl remains one of the defining moments of Suhey’s career — a reminder that his contributions extended beyond blocking assignments into timely, game-changing plays when called upon.
Friendship with Walter Payton and Off-Field Stewardship
Suhey and Walter Payton formed a close bond during their playing days. That friendship endured long after Payton’s retirement and death; Suhey remained close to Payton’s family following Payton’s passing in 1999, Yahoo! News reported.
Beyond personal loyalty, Suhey took on formal responsibilities connected to Payton’s legacy. Headtopics reported that Suhey served as the executor of Walter Payton’s estate after Payton’s death, a role that underscored the trust between the two men and Suhey’s standing within that inner circle.
Those ties — both personal and practical — are part of how teammates and fans remember Suhey: not only as a player who did the physical work on the field but as a friend and steward off it.
By all accounts, Suhey carried himself with the quiet professionalism that defined his career. He was drafted out of Penn State, spent a decade contributing to one of the NFL’s most notable teams of the 1980s, and left a mark on the game’s biggest stage.
Teammates who spoke to the Chicago Tribune provided the earliest public confirmation that Suhey died in his sleep Saturday night.
Matt Suhey’s death closes the chapter on a player whose commitment to team-first football, a pivotal performance in a championship-era season, and longtime loyalty to teammates have become integral parts of his legacy.
