Penn State, Chicago Bears RB, part of Super Bowl title team, dies

A star of Penn State’s Fiesta Bowl win over Arizona State and a running back for the 1985 Chicago Bears Super Bowl championship team, Matt Suhey, has died at the age of 68.

No cause or details were immediately given.

Suhey, a fullback, was very close with Bears superstar Hall of Famer Walter Payton, who died in 1999, as well as a teammate of one-time Cardinals quarterback Jim McMahon.

It was McMahon and Payton, along with the famed defense led by Buddy Ryan, who keyed the Super Bowl title run.

Suhey scored on an 11-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of Super Bowl 20, part of his 52 yards on 11 carries that day. The Bears beat the Patriots, 46-10.

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Josh Mauro (97) during practice on Aug. 5, 2017, in Glendale.

Mauro died of an accidental drug overdose in April. He was 35.

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Arizona Cardinals defensive end Josh Mauro (97) during practice on Aug. 5, 2017, in Glendale.

Mauro died of an accidental drug overdose in April. He was 35.

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Right wing Claude Lemieux of the Phoenix Coyotes waits for the puck during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2001.

Lemieux died at 60.

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Atlanta Braves infielder Bob Horner at Fulton County Stadium.

The Glendale Apollo High School and Arizona State baseball star died at 68.

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Brandon Clarke of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of an NBA game on Feb. 11, 2025, in Phoenix.

The Desert Vista alum died at age 29.

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Steven Miller of the Arizona State Sun Devils celebrates after the game against the Michigan State on Sept. 14, 2019, in East Lansing, Michigan.

Miller, an ASU alum and assistant football coach, died on April 15, 2026.

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Head coach Dave McGinnis of the Arizona Cardinals yells out to the field against the St. Louis Rams during the NFL game at the Edward Jones Dome on Dec. 15, 2002, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dave McGinnis died in Nashville on April 13, 2026. He was 74.

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) runs with the ball against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 30, 2022.

Moore died in Indiana on Feb. 21 at age 25.

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Phoenix Mercury forward Kara Braxton (45) reacts on the court against the Seattle Storm in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals in 2010.

Braxton died in Atlanta on Feb. 21.

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A portrait of Mike Bates taken on March 2, 2021, at Bull Shooter in Phoenix.

The former Apollo High School baseball player died of leukemia on Jan. 27.

Suhey scored twice for Penn State as the Nittany Lions beat Arizona State, 42-30, in the 1977 Fiesta Bowl at then-Sun Devil Stadium on Christmas Day.

Payton’s son, Jarrett, reflected on his dad’s relationship in a post on X, saying, in part:

“Their friendship showed me what real friendship looks like. Not the easy kind. The kind that lasts when the lights go off, when the stadium is empty, when life gets heavy. Brian’s Song told the story of Piccolo and Sayers. Somebody needs to tell the story of 34 and 26. Two men who trusted each other completely. Two men who became brothers.”

Suhey’s death on Sunday, Sept. 6, was confirmed to USA TODAY Sports by the Bears, with whom he played all of his 10 NFL seasons.

He was drafted in Round 2 by Chicago in the 1980 draft out of Penn State.

He played in 148 games (100 starts), gaining 2,946 yards on the ground with 20 touchdowns.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Penn State, Chicago Bears RB, part of Super Bowl title team, dies