PSU Football
News & Information
News—Sept. 7, 2026
Former Penn State Star Matt Suhey Dead at 68
Matt Suhey (PS FB 1976-1979) unexpectedly passed away on Sept. 6 at the age of 68 (no cause of death was announced). Suhey was a member of the “first family” of Penn State football as the grandson of legendary Penn State player and head coach Bob Higgins and the son of 1947 team legend Steve Suhey (PS RG 1942, 1946-47). Matt was also a teammate of his brothers, Larry (FB 1973-76) and Paul (LB/TE 1975-78). And he was the father of Penn State fullback Joe Suhey (PS 2007-2011).
Matt spent 10 years in the NFL all with the Chicago Bears and is one of only two Nittany Lions to ever rush for a touchdown in a Super Bowl (Franco Harris is the other). Bears fans fondly recall him as the principal blocker for Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton in the 1980’s.
In four seasons at Penn State, Suhey rushed for 3,094 yards which is currently 10th best all-time and was actually the Penn State record from 1979 until it was broken by Curt Warner in 1982 (using “Modified/Complete” stats). He rushed for 28 touchdowns in his PSU career including a personal best of 10 in 1977.
The 1979 Beaver Stadium Pictorial cover seen above shows the Higgins-Suhey football family of the time and was published for that year’s Army game in which Matt rushed for a career high 225 yards (this was at the time the 4th best rushing game in PSU history). Matt Suhey is pictured top center in the BSP cover’s photo art.
