Matt Suhey, a fullback who helped the Chicago Bears and Walter Payton win the 1985 NFL championship, has died. He was 68.
The Bears confirmed Suhey died on Sunday morning. No other details were provided.
Suhey spent 10 seasons with Chicago after the Bears picked him in the second round of the 1980 draft. He helped open running lanes for Payton, who became the NFL's all-time leading rusher, a record that stood until Emmitt Smith passed him on Oct. 27, 2002.
Suhey and Payton were close friends. Payton served as the godfather for Suhey's youngest son, Scott.
"After we lost my dad in 1999, Matt became the biggest father figure I had," Walter's son, Jarrett, posted on social media on Monday. "When everything felt uncertain, he was there. My dad left him in charge and Matt never let that responsibility sit lightly. He protected our family. He looked after us. He made sure we were okay, year after year, without ever making it about himself.
"That is who he was."
Suhey preferred to stay out of the spotlight, but he was known for his eloquence and support of teammates. He often spoke for others, including Payton, and in recent years appeared at Hall of Fame ceremonies honoring former Bears lineman Jimbo Covert.
Fred Mitchell, a former Chicago Tribune sportswriter who covered the Bears during that era, said Suhey's legacy extended beyond his accomplishments on the field.
"His legacy will include, obviously, the fact that he was best friends with Walter Payton and that he was, sort of an understated personality on a Super Bowl Bears team that was full of great vicarious, personalities from Jim McMahon, Steve McMichael, and, on and on," Mitchell said.
During the 1985 regular season, when the Bears went 15-1, Suhey was the team's second-leading rusher with 471 yards. Payton ran for 1,551 yards and nine touchdowns that year.
In the playoffs, the 1985 Bears shut out the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams, then beat New England 46-10 in the Super Bowl. Suhey scored the game's first touchdown on an 11-yard run in the first quarter. He finished with 52 yards on 11 carries and added a 24-yard reception.
Suhey was durable, appearing in 148 regular-season games over 10 years with the Bears, starting 100. He carried 828 times for 2,946 yards and 20 touchdowns, and caught 260 passes for 2,113 yards and five scores.
No cause of death has been released, and those who knew him said they were unaware of any recent illnesses.
ABC7 contributed to this report.
Source: abc7chicago.com — Read the original article
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