Matt Suhey spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Chicago Bears.
During that time the fullback became best friends with the Bears superstar running back Walton Payton. They won a Super Bowl together, but their bond carried on long after their football careers ended.
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Payton, who retired in 1988 as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, was the godfather of Suhey’s son, Scotty. And Suhey was the “biggest father figure” to Payton’s son, Jarrett.
Jarrett Payton posted a tribute to his father’s “closest friend” a day after Suhey’s death on Sunday, Sept. 6. The Bears confirmed the death to USA TODAY Sports.
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Every NFL team’s all-time leading rusher, ranked by total yardage (through 2025 season)
Every NFL team’s all-time leading rusher, ranked by total yardage (through 2025 season)
Washington — John Riggins, 1976-1985, 7,472 yards
(Manny Rubio, US PRESSWIRE)
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Every NFL team’s all-time leading rusher, ranked by total yardage (through 2025 season)
Carolina Panthers — Jonathan Stewart, 2008-2017, 7,318 yards
(Jonathan Dyer, USA TODAY Sports)
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Every NFL team’s all-time leading rusher, ranked by total yardage (through 2025 season)
Kansas City Chiefs — Jamaal Charles, 2008-2016, 7,260 yards
(John Rieger, USA TODAY Sports)
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Every NFL team’s all-time leading rusher, ranked by total yardage (through 2025 season)
New Orleans Saints — Alvin Kamara, 2017-present, 7,250 yards
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
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Every NFL team’s all-time leading rusher, ranked by total yardage (through 2025 season)
Philadelphia Eagles — LeSean McCoy, 2009-2014, 6,792 yards
(Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports)
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Every NFL team’s all-time leading rusher, ranked by total yardage (through 2025 season)
Miami Dolphins — Larry Csonka, 1968-1974 and 1979, 6,737 yards
(Dick Raphael, USA TODAY Sports)
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Every NFL team’s all-time leading rusher, ranked by total yardage (through 2025 season)
Atlanta Falcons — Gerald Riggs, 1982-88, 6,631 yards
(George Rose, Getty Images)
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Every NFL team’s all-time leading rusher, ranked by total yardage (through 2025 season)
Houston Texans — Arian Foster, 2009-2015, 6,472 yards
(Mike Carter, US PRESSWIRE)
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Every NFL team’s all-time leading rusher, ranked by total yardage (through 2025 season)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — James Wilder, 1981-89, 5,957 yards
(Scott Halleran, Getty Images)
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Every NFL team’s all-time leading rusher, ranked by total yardage (through 2025 season)
New England Patriots — Sam Cunningham, 1973-1982, 5,453 yards
(Malcolm Emmons, USA TODAY Sports)
“He was my dad’s closest friend,” Jarrett Payton, Walter’s son, posted to Instagram on Monday. “After we lost my dad in 1999, Matt became the biggest father figure I had. 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.
