Matt Suhey, a former Chicago Bears running back and member of the heralded 1985 Super Bowl Championship team, has died. He was 68.
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Suhey, who logged the majority of his snaps at fullback, served as the lead blocker for Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Payton. The former Penn State standout scored the first touchdown of Super Bowl XX, setting the tone for the Bears' win over the New England Patriots.
The cause of death for the Bears legend has not been disclosed.
NFL Community Mourns Matt Suhey
In the wake of his death, several of Suhey's teammates reflected fondly on his life and legacy.
"I kind of remember Matt as a level-headed guy," safety Gary Fencik said. "You could almost interpret how the offense felt by going through Matt. Just a real valuable teammate and one that, gosh, this was a real shock to all of us."
"I am shocked," Hall of Fame defensive tackle Dan Hampton told the Daily Herald.
Hampton recalled joking around with Suhey at the Super Bowl XX team's 40th anniversary event last year.
Penn State, Suhey's alma mater, released a statement on social media.
"Forever a Nittany Lion. Rest in peace, Matt Suhey," the school wrote.
Former Penn State assistant coach Jay Paterno also expressed his condolences.
"RIP Matt Suhey. An incredibly loyal person & player. He was part of 4 generations of @PennStateFball, including his son. He always seemed to lead the way for others' success on & off the field. Somewhere, he & Sweetness have resumed their prankster ways."
Matt Suhey is a Chicago Bears Legend
Suhey played 10 seasons in the NFL — all with Chicago — and finished with 2,946 career rushing yards and 25 total touchdowns.
Suhey was also a shining example of durability. In seven of his ten seasons, he didn't miss a game.
Known for his dual-threat ability, Suhey was a skilled receiver out of the backfield. The 10-year pro amassed 2,113 receiving yards in his career.
Beyond his on-field contributions, the former Super Bowl champion was beloved by his teammates.
"Quality of character, there was no one superior to Matt," Hampton said. "He was truly a gentleman. He wasn't like a bunch of the rest of us who were cutting up. I don't want to say more adult, but he was really responsible. He played around with Walter and everyone else, but he wasn't a guy going out to the bar after the game. He was a businessman."
