More than a blocker, Matt Suhey was a durable, versatile and beloved teammate during the Chicago Bears’ greatest sustained run. From 1980-89, the Penn State alum did not miss a regular-season game in seven of 10 NFL seasons. It was a Super Bowl performance that catapulted Suhey into greater fame.
He scored the first touchdown in the Bears' win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX on Jan. 26, 1986. To this date, it remains the franchise's only Super Bowl win. When he died at age 68, Suhey was lauded by former teammates for his selflessness on and off the field.
"Quality of character, there was no one superior to Matt," Bears Hall of Fame defensive tackle Dan Hampton told the Chicago Tribune. "He was truly a gentleman. He wasn't like a bunch of the rest of us who were cutting up.
He was, I don't want to say more adult, but he was real 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." From 1980-89, Suhey wore only a Bears uniform.
Chicago selected him in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft, 46th overall, after his standout career at Penn State. He appeared in 148 regular-season games, starting 100, and finished with 2,946 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 828 carries. He also caught 260 passes for 2,113 yards and five touchdowns.
More news: Former Giants, Broncos Wide Receiver Dies at 57 Suhey was running back Walter Payton’s lead blocker for eight seasons, helping create running lanes for the Hall of Famer as the Bears became a powerhouse under head coach Mike Ditka. Chicago led the NFL in rushing for four consecutive seasons from 1983-86, with Payton and Suhey forming one of the league’s most effective backfields. More news: Pioneering Memphis Quarterback, Super Bowl Coach, Dies Their friendship extended well beyond football.
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