Bears Legend Matt Suhey Dead at 68, Eagles' Brandon Graham Retires for Good in Same NFL Week

Matt Suhey dead at 68, coroner says natural causes

Matt Suhey, the fullback who cleared the way for Walter Payton on the Chicago Bears' 1985 Super Bowl championship team, was found dead Sunday at his home in Deerfield, Illinois. He was 68.

Lake County Coroner's Office chief deputy Steve Newton told the New York Post that an initial police investigation found no suspicious circumstances. "Our preliminary investigation indicated that Mr. Suhey had a significant medical history and was being treated by a primary care physician," 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 played all 10 of his NFL seasons in Chicago after joining the Bears in 1980. He rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown in the Bears' blowout Super Bowl XX win over the New England Patriots.

Former Bears safety Gary Fencik told the Daily Herald the news hit the old locker room hard. "I kind of remember Matt as a level-headed guy," Fencik said. "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."

Jarrett Payton, Walter Payton's son, wrote a tribute on X calling Suhey his father's closest friend and the closest thing he had to a father figure after Walter Payton died in 1999. "My dad left him in charge and Matt never let that responsibility sit lightly," Jarrett Payton wrote. "He protected our family. He looked after us. He made sure we were okay, year after year, without ever making it about himself."

No cause of death beyond "natural causes" has been released, and none is expected. The coroner's office says the primary care physician handling Suhey's ongoing medical treatment will sign the death certificate, which is standard when a patient's history is already documented.

Brandon Graham retires again, this time for real

Two days after Suhey's death made headlines, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham made his own retirement official Tuesday, September 8, at a Jefferson Health event in Philadelphia billed as "Breakfast with the Birds." NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark first reported the news, according to Yahoo Sports.

"Everybody, I'm officially done. Y'all hearing it from me first," Graham said. "Everybody, I'm officially done. They are in great hands. Jordan Davis, I'm telling you, he is a guy that's gonna get the defense going. And the offense, I can't wait for Jalen Hurts to prove them haters wrong as always and get us back to the promised land."

This is Graham's second retirement in two years. He first retired in March 2025, then un-retired that October to rejoin the Eagles after the team was hit by injuries, according to The Athletic and NFL.com. He appeared in nine games during his return, recording three sacks and eight tackles, and became the oldest player in NFL history to record a sack with his two-sack game against the Las Vegas Raiders, per Newsweek. This time, Graham says it's final, timing the announcement a day before Philadelphia opens its 2026 season.

Graham, 38, spent all 16 of his NFL seasons with the Eagles after Philadelphia drafted him 13th overall out of Michigan in 2010. He finishes with 215 games played and 16 seasons, both franchise records, 79.5 regular-season sacks, 23 forced fumbles and a Pro Bowl selection in 2020. Most outlets, including Newsweek, the New York Times, NFL.com and TSN, list his career tackle total at 495; Fox Sports put the number at 493, a discrepancy that doesn't change the larger picture of a durable, productive career.

Graham's signature moment came in Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots, when he strip-sacked Tom Brady in the fourth quarter to help set up the Eagles' first championship. He also won a second ring with Philadelphia's Super Bowl LIX roster.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman praised Graham's impact both on and off the field. "You're talking about one of the greatest Eagles players and an unbelievable person," Roseman said in July, according to The Athletic. "Last year, his ability to come back in and help us was huge for our football team." Owner Jeffrey Lurie called Graham "part of our family forever" when he first retired in March 2025.

Graham said he plans to stay close to the team. "I'm still around, still giving wisdom to the guys, still helping the guys," he said, according to TSN. "It's an adjustment for me, but it's a great adjustment because it's all about my kids and my family."

The Eagles have already restocked their pass rush for life after Graham, trading for former Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and signing veterans A.J. Epenesa and Arnold Ebiketie this offseason, according to Fox Sports and The Athletic. Philadelphia opens defense of its Super Bowl LIX title this week still among the top contenders on sportsbooks, tied with the Kansas City Chiefs at +1700 odds to win it all, per Newsweek's DraftKings citation. Whether Jordan Davis and Nolan Smith can replace Graham's production on the field remains to be seen starting with kickoff.