Former NFL fullback Matt Suhey, a member of the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears, passed away over the weekend from natural causes, officials told the California Post.
Suhey, 68, was found dead at his home in Deerfield, Ill. on Sunday and a spokesperson for the Lake County Coroner’s Office told The Post on Tuesday that an initial police probe “revealed that there were no suspicious circumstances” surrounding his passing.
“Our preliminary investigation indicated that Mr. Suhey had a significant medical history and was being treated by a primary care physician (PCP),” Lake County Coroner’s Office chief deputy Steve Newton said. “Therefore, our investigation was limited, and the PCP will be completing the death certificate for him, as it will be Natural Causes.”
Suhey joined the Bears in 1980 and played the entirety of his 10-year NFL career for Chicago.
He blocked for Walter Payton for the majority of his time in the Windy City, and in the 1985-86 season, he helped the Bears win the Super Bowl.
In the team’s blowout championship victory over the Patriots, Suhey rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown.
As news of his death spread on Sunday, many of his ex teammates offered fond memories of him.
“I kind of remember Matt as a level-headed guy,” former safety Gary Fencik said to the Daily Herald. “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.”
Payton’s son, Jarrett, also wrote a touching tribute to Suhey in the wake of his passing, calling the former tailback his “dad’s closest friend.”
“After we lost my dad in 1999, Matt became the biggest father figure I had,” Jarrett wrote on his X page. “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 started a total of 100 games in his NFL career and rushed for 2,946 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also recorded 2,113 receiving yards and five receiving scores.
