Matt Suhey, former Chicago Bears fullback, dies at 68

Former Chicago Bears fullback and 1985 Super Bowl champion Matt Suhey died this past weekend.

The Bears reported Suhey died Sunday morning, according to published reports. Suhey was 68 years old.

Suhey was born July 7, 1958, in Pennsylvania. He played football at State College Area High School and then at Penn State — following in the footsteps of his father, Steve Suhey, and maternal grandfather, Bob Higgins.

As noted in published reports, Suhey ran 2,818 yards and scored 26 touchdowns as a Penn State Nittany Lion from 1976 through 1979.

Suhey was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He went on to score 2,946 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in 148 games across 10 seasons for the Bears, reports said.

The most famous Suhey's touchdowns was an 11-yarder on Jan. 26, 1986, as it happened to be the first touchdown in Super Bowl XX, which remains the Bears' lone Super Bowl victory. The Bears beat the New England Patriots 46-10.

Suhey was a backfield mate to Walter Payton on the gridiron, and a close friend to Payton all the time.

Suhey was named to the Pennsylvania Football All-Century Team, and was also named one of the 100 Greatest Bears of All Time.