Matt Suhey, a fullback closely associated with the Chicago Bears’ most celebrated era, dies at 68. Sources describe him as a standout player who spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Bears after being selected in the second round. Suhey is remembered for his role in the backfield, where he often helped enable the production of Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton.
Both outlets connect Suhey’s legacy to his friendship and on-field partnership with Payton. A shared theme is the personal closeness between the two, reflected in iconic imagery, including a 1985 photo capturing Payton’s playful involvement with Suhey during a Bears minicamp practice. While one source emphasizes Suhey’s statistical and career framing as “leading” Payton’s backfield to success, the other highlights the broader historical and emotional context of Suhey’s place in the Bears’ late-1970s to mid-1980s peak.
