His career was never anything special. However, for a brief moment in time, Shane Matthews was a hero to the Chicago Bears fans. He led Florida to their first-ever SEC championship but still went undrafted in 1993. After four seasons as a backup in Chicago, he headed off elsewhere before returning again in 1999. He moved in and out of the starting role over the next few seasons.
Though he never set the world on fire, he did manage to have a memorable moment. In 2001 he became the starter early in the season after Jim Miller went down with an injury. Matthews stepped in during a game against the San Francisco 49ers. A game the Bears trailed 28-9 at one point. Matthews led them on a heroic comeback, throwing three touchdown passes. Chicago prevailed in overtime 37-31 on the now iconic Mike Brown interception return for a touchdown.
The next week, despite a tough game, Matthews again sparked an improbable comeback with two late TD passes including a hail mary in the final seconds to force overtime against Cleveland. As before Brown capped it with a pick-six for the win. Matthew eventually relinquished the job back to Miller but his efforts helped the Bears go 13-3 that season for their first playoff berth in seven years.
It seems those were far better days for him.
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Former Bears QB Shane Matthews is going to prison
It turns out Matthews got himself involved with some shady business practices down in Florida. According to the Orlando Sentinel, he was connected to a health care fraud scheme involving illegal kickbacks on prescription medications. Though he wasn’t directly responsible and has cooperated with investigators, he won’t be able to avoid punishment.
“Record-setting former Florida Gators’ quarterback Shane Matthews has been sentenced to serve three months in federal prison for his role in a healthcare fraud conspiracy.
Matthews became entangled in a scheme with former UF linebacker Monty Grow to receive kickbacks on prescription medications, Matthews’ attorney Miles Kinsell said in a statement to the Gainesville Sun.
Grow hired Matthews to join an independent marketing team that ultimately would bilk $20 million from the TRICARE program for military members, veterans, and their families.
Matthews stopped working for Grow in the spring of 2015 unaware of the conspiracy, Kinsell told the Sun. When approached by investigators the following year, Matthews fully cooperated in the investigation.”
It’s an unfortunate downturn in the life of a former Bears folk hero. Hopefully, Matthews learns this lesson well. He’s certainly not the first to get himself in trouble with the law after his career was over. Probably won’t be the last either.
