Eleven years and plenty of life had occurred because the tailback and the fullback ran collectively. The previous teammates didn’t socialize a lot though each remained within the Chicago space.
Matt Suhey, the fullback, traded soybean meal futures and owned a bottled water firm. He left house for the Board of Commerce each morning at 5:30, returned house to his household at 6:30 within the night and didn’t have time for a lot else.
Walter Payton was in perpetual movement — the tailback was at all times most comfy that approach. He traveled about 4 days every week for appearances, speeches and varied enterprise ventures. He held possession stakes in an car racing workforce, nightclubs, a restaurant and a heavy gear firm. He oversaw a charitable basis, was a member of the Bears’ board of administrators, and labored diligently and passionately in pursuit of an NFL growth workforce in St. Louis.
However at some point between Christmas in 1998 and New 12 months’s Day, Payton requested Suhey to satisfy for dinner. They exchanged hugs in a personal room at Millrose in Barrington, not removed from Payton’s house, and began laughing like they did within the previous days. Suhey joked about Payton’s weight reduction, most likely near 50 kilos.
Payton turned on him.
“I’ve received an issue,” he mentioned, jutting his face towards Suhey’s.
“What do you imply?” Suhey mentioned.
Payton had been identified with main sclerosing cholangitis, a uncommon liver illness. He additionally had most cancers of the bile duct, and it was spreading quickly.
He wanted a brand new liver.
Two days after their dinner, Suhey referred to as Payton, who advised him he was going to the Mayo Clinic. Suhey’s objective on the soccer subject had been to verify Payton received to the place he wished to be, so the fullback advised the tailback he was coming with him. Payton adopted his lead.
Within the months that adopted and because the clock on Payton’s life neared zero, they nonetheless laughed collectively. “We’re doing a brand new model of ‘Brian’s Track,’” Payton mentioned. “The one distinction is the Black man dies.”
“Brian’s Track” received 4 Emmy Awards and was the most-watched TV film in 1971, when made-for-television films had been appointment viewing. Starring Billy Dee Williams and James Caan, it advised the story of the odd-couple friendship between Bears operating backs Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo as Piccolo was dying from most cancers.
4 years after the film debuted, the Bears selected Payton with the fourth decide of the draft. By 1980, when the Bears chosen Suhey within the second spherical of the draft, Payton had been voted All-Professional 4 instances, NFL Most Helpful Participant and NFL Man of the 12 months. He was celebrated for his model — refusing to expire of bounds, selecting punishment over preservation, popping up from the massive hit with a smile and no indication of ache.
Initially, Payton shunned Suhey. The fullback who helped make Payton a luminary was Roland Harper, who was additionally Payton’s closest confidant and looking companion. However Harper’s knees had been betraying him, and everybody might see Suhey was drafted to interchange him. On the uncommon events when Payton acknowledged Suhey, he referred to as him “brief white boy.”
Suhey and Payton had been Chicago teammates for eight seasons. (Courtesy of the Chicago Bears)
Within the opening recreation of Suhey’s second season towards the Packers, Harper was injured. With 32 seconds remaining and the Bears trailing by seven, Suhey took a handoff on the Packers’ 3 and was one step away from scoring when he fumbled. The Packers recovered and received the sport.
Suhey was devastated. As he walked to the locker room, Payton smiled at him and requested if he ever had a paper route. Suhey requested what he was speaking about. With a giggle, Payton advised him if he ever fumbled like that once more he would want to discover a paper route as a result of his soccer profession can be over. Suhey couldn’t assist however chuckle.
The next Sunday, Payton fumbled twice, together with on the 1-yard line, in a loss to the 49ers. After the flight house from San Francisco, Suhey and operating again Dave Williams received in Suhey’s automotive to drive to The Snuggery in Edison Park. Then Suhey heard a knock on his window.
“The place you going?” Payton requested.
Payton went, too. For the primary time, Payton and Suhey had an actual dialog, speaking nicely into Monday morning. When Suhey went to Halas Corridor the next Wednesday, one thing had modified.
Earlier than lengthy, their relationship grew to become a wedding with out the rings and roses, a lifetime dedication to the opposite’s well-being, a private co-dependency and enterprise partnership.
They had been wired otherwise as soccer gamers. Suhey was obsessive about particulars and assignments; Payton performed like a poet freestyles. In “By no means Die Straightforward,” his autobiography, Payton jokingly complained that Suhey’s copious questions in conferences took years off his life. However the fullback’s steadiness grounded Payton.
Though it appeared as if that they had nothing in widespread besides the sport they cherished, there was a connective tissue between them that couldn’t be quantified. They normally lined up within the I-formation, which they made the We-formation. Payton appeared to know the way Suhey would block, and Suhey appeared to know the place Payton would step.
They labored out hand alerts to speak presnap changes, which had been crucial as a result of quarterback Jim McMahon audibled steadily. “If we had been going to make a mistake, my factor was we each had been going to be fallacious,” Suhey says.
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When Payton broke the all-time dashing document with a 6-yard run towards the Saints in 1984, Suhey threw the lead block, crushing linebacker Dennis Winston off-tackle. Afterward, Payton took Suhey to a blues bar on the South Facet of Chicago the place they partied with Jim Brown, whose document Payton broke. Then Payton gifted Suhey with a shotgun value about $10,000.
Suhey and Payton performed golf collectively. Suhey remembers him usually hitting a 1-iron off the tee. They shot pool and performed plenty of playing cards, Hearts being their favourite. On bus rides, they sat in aisle seats throughout from each other. Earlier than highway video games, they generally roomed collectively.
Bears center linebacker Mike Singletary had a neighboring resort room to the operating backs the week earlier than Tremendous Bowl XX.
“Each time apply was completed, Walter would fireplace up the music field, throw open his resort door and begin jamming,” Singletary wrote in “Calling The Pictures.” “You possibly can hear the 2 of them subsequent door dancing, wrestling, appearing like a few 12-year-olds.”
Their lockers had been aspect by aspect in an space of the locker room Payton referred to as “The Ghetto.” Suhey was the one white participant in “The Ghetto,” however he belonged as a lot as anybody, partly due to his relationship with Payton.
“I by no means considered him as Walter Payton, my Black good friend,” Suhey says. “And I’m fairly positive he didn’t consider me as his white good friend.”
Payton mentioned Suhey was one of many first white individuals he knew nicely.
“We had been Ebony and Ivory earlier than Stevie Marvel and Paul McCartney,” Payton as soon as mentioned. “I believe our relationship helped break down plenty of strains, plenty of racial strains, on the workforce and a few mentioned within the metropolis.”
In a preseason recreation, Bears offensive linemen Mark Bortz and Keith Van Horne received into it with Cowboys defensive lineman Randy White after the Cowboys had been unnecessarily tough with Payton. Chaos reigned. That’s when Payton wished Suhey with him.
“Again-to-back!” Payton advised Suhey, locking arms with him, their backs pressed towards one another’s.
“What’s this?” Suhey mentioned.
“Again-to-back,” Payton mentioned. “That’s how we take them.”
The nice Payton was in a stratosphere of his personal within the workforce hierarchy, however Suhey knew the way to deliver him down a degree. When Payton teased Suhey for going to Penn State, Suhey requested him the place Payton’s alma mater, Jackson State, was positioned. When Suhey began dropping his hair, Payton complained in regards to the reflection from his head. Suhey ribbed Payton about his Jheri curl.
Suhey was a foil for Payton’s sensible jokes. Payton referred to as Suhey’s spouse, Donna, and, with a high-pitched voice, advised her he was Matt’s pregnant girlfriend. Donna believed Payton till he cracked up.
As soon as, Payton lined up behind Suhey in an I-formation in apply, and Payton pulled down Suhey’s pants as Suhey was about to take off. {A photograph} of the prank later grew to become well-known. Suhey has a duplicate in his workplace.
When the Bears went to Platteville for coaching camp in 1984, Payton didn’t need to keep in a dorm room, so he rented a motorhome. Then Payton and Suhey drove it over 4 hours from Chicago.
“We had been like Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton (from ‘The Honeymooners’),” Suhey says. “We didn’t know the place we had been going, and the motorhome was so broad on slim roads. We pulled via a McDonald’s drive-through in it. We had plenty of laughs.”
Suhey, Payton and Calvin Thomas are surrounded by reporters forward of Tremendous Bowl XX. (Courtesy of the Chicago Bears)
Payton wasn’t at all times goofing round. He could possibly be moody and mercurial, and he saved secrets and techniques. Suhey, greater than anybody in Payton’s soccer life, at all times appeared to have the proper contact, figuring out when and the way to give him house or draw him out.
Payton was crushed after fumbling on the Bears’ second offensive play of the Tremendous Bowl. He went to the sideline and talked to Suhey. There was no redemption; Payton ran for less than 61 yards on 22 carries and didn’t rating. Slightly than rejoice the victory, he sulked.
“He was fairly upset,” Suhey says. “It was one in all his desires to attain a landing within the Tremendous Bowl.”
As an alternative of ready for the workforce flight house the following morning, Payton returned on a personal jet, taking solely his son, Jarrett, and Suhey. That evening, Suhey knew higher than to tease Payton about his Tremendous Bowl efficiency. However later, he couldn’t assist himself.
“Chances are you’ll be the best participant ever within the NFL, however I scored a landing within the Tremendous Bowl and also you didn’t,” he advised him.
“Learn between the strains,” Payton mentioned, holding up his index finger, center finger and ring finger.
Suhey’s youngest son, Scott, was born on March 4, 1994 (3/4/94) at 10:34 a.m., and Suhey referred to as his previous teammate, No. 34. He advised Payton how the numbers aligned.
“I’m his godfather,” Payton responded. And he was.
After Payton grew to become sick, he might now not drive. However he was uncomfortable staying in a single place all day, so Suhey took him for rides in his Mercedes 430. Suhey estimates they went on as many as 40 drives. Payton, the one-time race automotive driver, criticized Suhey’s cautious method behind the wheel, telling him his driving would kill him earlier than the most cancers did.
Dairy Queen was an everyday vacation spot, however usually they simply drove. When Suhey would tire, he’d ask Payton if he wished to go house. “Hold driving,” was usually the reply.
“I believe he was attempting to take in these moments,” Jarrett says.
“Generally on these rides, he was chatty as a chicken,” Suhey says. “Different instances he wouldn’t say a phrase. We talked about his favourite eating places, and a few he wished to go to. He cherished P.F. Chang’s, and we went there. I wished to take him to Francesco’s Gap within the Wall, however we by no means made it.”
Late in Payton’s life, he requested Suhey to drive him to Singletary’s home, then gave him instructions. Suhey rang the bell, however Singletary didn’t reply. That’s when Suhey seemed again to see Payton cracking up. Suhey had been had once more.
“Matt helped me chuckle and after I received sick, I wanted that greater than ever,” Payton mentioned.
Payton refused to permit anybody to accompany him to radiation and chemo remedies besides Suhey, who took him to about 9 physician’s appointments. Payton normally wished to have his chemo administered at midnight when his presence wouldn’t create a stir. Suhey was by his aspect.
“Walter was a loner,” his spouse, Connie, says. “There weren’t lots of people he would hang around with. He was unusual like that. However I knew Matt was particular to him and close to to his coronary heart as a result of he allowed him to be in his house.”
Connie says she might depend on one hand the variety of individuals her husband allowed on the Barrington home throughout these days. Amongst them had been Singletary, enterprise companion Mike Lanigan and Suhey, who visited 4 or 5 instances weekly.
Payton confirmed Suhey his assortment of firearms, blades and bows. They watched TV collectively, principally sporting occasions and films. They performed the comedy “Main Payne” again and again — Payton did a spot-on imitation of Damon Wayans’ character. It wasn’t uncommon for Suhey to fall asleep in entrance of the tv. He as soon as woke, discovered Payton watching him and joked that he was taking a look at him somewhat too lovingly.
Payton’s meds made him sleepy and listless. Throughout one troublesome stretch, he stopped consuming. Solely Suhey might get him to eat and take extra fluids. “He might transfer Walter in a approach that generally we couldn’t,” Connie says.
Generally Suhey slept over within the bed room belonging to Jarrett or his sister, Brittney. The youngsters needed to discover elsewhere to sleep. Each time Suhey left, he woke Payton with a kiss on the brow and advised him he cherished him. Payton at all times requested, “When are you coming again?”
As Payton’s eyes yellowed and his weight reduction neared 100 kilos, he and his former teammate didn’t look again and reminisce a lot about soccer as most elderly gamers would.
They seemed ahead, discussing what would change into of Payton’s enterprise empire, his youngsters and his spouse.
They talked about his legacy.
They talked about his soul.
Payton compiled over 7,000 dashing yards and scored 39 touchdowns on the bottom through the years Suhey was his main lead blocker. (Courtesy of the Chicago Bears)
Suhey remembers the early afternoon telephone name that got here on Nov. 1, 25 years in the past Friday. He had been anticipating it for some time, however the information shocked him simply the identical. He drove to Payton’s home to be with the household.
Payton had named Suhey the executor of his property and put him accountable for his title, picture and likeness rights. Suhey was concerned in founding the Walter Payton Liver Heart on the College of Illinois Hospital and Walter Payton School Preparatory Excessive College. In line with Jarrett, Suhey continues to lord over all issues bought underneath the Walter Payton title — and has by no means requested for something in return.
“I had no clue about plenty of enterprise dealings, so I used to be very grateful for Matt as a result of I might belief him to be sincere and true,” Connie says. “For me, it was an enormous deal.”
Suhey has suggested Jarrett on investments, together with his stakes in Flagship on the Fox sports activities bar, Jarrett Payton’s All-American Wheat Ale and Payton Premium Espresso.
Suhey’s help has been emotional as a lot as monetary. Connie considers him an enormous brother; to Jarrett, he’s a father determine. Suhey spoke to Jarrett in regards to the sanctity of the vows he took when he married Trisha. When Jarrett’s son, Jaden, was born, Suhey calmed his nerves, assuring him parenthood would come naturally in time.
Jarrett texts Suhey images of his youngsters. Suhey has been to their birthday events. Jarrett’s household vacationed with the Suheys at their Arizona house.
“He tells me each time I speak to him — each time,” Jarrett says. “‘Have you learnt how proud your father is of you?’”
The anniversary of Payton’s demise is at all times a troublesome day for Suhey.
On a latest anniversary, the fullback discovered himself alone in an previous church that was darkish aside from streams of daylight beaming via stained glass. He lit a votive candle. Then one other. Two candles grew to become 4, grew to become 10, grew to become 20 till each was aflame. He stuffed $100 within the assortment slot.
Then the fullback sat alone in silence eager about the times he and the tailback ran collectively. And within the sacred, heat glow of candlelight, he prayed that at some point they might run collectively once more.
(Illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic; images courtesy of the Chicago Bears)
