The Chicago Bears community is mourning the loss of Matt Suhey, and now the picture around his death is becoming clearer. The former fullback was found unresponsive on Sunday afternoon inside his home in Deerfield, Illinois, and the Lake County Coroner’s Office later said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
Two days after Suhey’s passing, Lake County officials added an official label to the case. Chief deputy coroner Steve Newton said the preliminary review pointed to a significant medical history that was already being treated by a primary-care doctor. Because of that, the death certificate is expected to list natural causes.
Newton also said the investigation remained limited because a treating physician will complete the certificate. Authorities reiterated that the circumstances were not being treated as suspicious.
For teammates and friends, though, the news landed as a stunning surprise. Suhey had recently appeared to be in excellent health, and former safety Gary Fencik’s planned breakfast with him this week never happened.
Friends said Suhey also looked well at last year’s Super Bowl XX anniversary gathering. Dan Hampton called the news a real jolt after seeing him there. The loss comes while another member of that championship team, Hall of Famer Steve McMichael, continues his long fight with ALS.
Suhey’s football career left a real mark in Chicago. Drafted by the Bears in 1980 after a standout college career at Penn State, he spent 10 seasons as a dependable fullback. He became the primary blocking back for Walter Payton, while also contributing as a runner and receiver.
His signature moment came in Super Bowl XX, when he scored the opening touchdown for the Bears against the New England Patriots. Chicago rolled to the title from there. Suhey retired in 1989 with 2,946 rushing yards and 25 total touchdowns.
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Bears Fans Now Have The Official Word On Matt Suheys Death
Chicago Bears fans who remember the hard-nosed days of the 1980s got sad news recently with the death of former fullback Matt Suhey, a dependable piece of one of the franchises most celebrated teams. Suhey was found unresponsive in his Deerfield, Illinois home and later pronounced dead, closing the book on a career that included a key role in the Bears Super Bowl XX championship run, when he scored the opening touchdown in the title game.
The Lake County Coroners Office said there were no suspicious circumstances and reported that Suheys death was due to natural causes tied to a significant medical history. For Bears followers, it is a reminder of how much that era still means, and how quickly the teams icons from that championship team are moving into the realm of memory rather than game-day presence. [Read more 🡒]
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Rome Odunze Gives Bears Fans A Reason To Worry Early
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The Bears are still holding out hope Odunze can suit up against the Carolina Panthers, which at least keeps the door open for a quick return. Even so, the foot remains a familiar concern for a player who has already talked about changes in its structure since last seasons injury, so this will be one of the more closely watched storylines as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]