Thank You, Matt Forte

Dear Matt Forte,

Thank you for eight wonderful seasons as a Chicago Bear. Thank you for playing 120 out of 128 games in those eight seasons. Thank you for 12,718 yards from scrimmage, 4.2 yards per attempt and 64 touchdowns. Thank you for those numbers even though you were the number one option for a below average offense throughout those eight years. Defenses knew where to focus to stop the Bears offense but you still managed to go out there almost every game and produce as much as any elite running back of the era.

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Drafted in the second round (44th overall) in the 2008 draft out of Tulane, not many Bears fans had any idea who Matt Forte was. They learned quickly, since as a rookie Forte rushed 316 times for 1,238 yards and eight touchdowns. He also added 63 receptions for 477 yards and four receiving touchdowns. Despite those amazing numbers, he only received one vote for Offensive Rookie of the Year in a stacked class that included the landslide winner Matt Ryan as well as Chris Johnson.

After his rookie year, the Bears made a huge investment at quarterback bringing in Jay Cutler. The move was supposed to open up the offense and provide a passing game to open up the field for Forte. His touches dropped from his rookie year totals — thankfully, as no one could have kept that up. However, 1,250 total yards was a minimum for Forte throughout his Bears career.

In this writer’s opinion, Matt Forte was the most underrated player in the NFL for the close to a decade. His elusiveness not only made him a great running back but protected his body from any severe injury throughout his Bears career. He was underrated due to being on a team that did not surround him with much talent. He only once played behind an All-Pro offensive lineman (Kyle Long in 2014). Forte only played two playoff games in his career, both in 2010, and was not able to score in either. He only made two Pro Bowls and oddly, one of them came in his least productive season (2011). Under Marc Trestman, Forte found new success in his career as a receiving back. In 2014, he surpassed the 100 reception mark (102) to go along with his 1,038 rushing yards.

Forte turned 30 in December — the fearful age where running backs are projected to lose their youth and begin a steady decline. It should not surprise anyone for Forte to have a couple more productive seasons in the NFL. He always kept himself in prime shape including attempting many “new-age” treatments, such as sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber. Due to his efforts, he often returned from any injury sooner than anticipated.

Unfortunately, like most of his career, the Bears just do not have the current talent on the roster to afford taking a risk on an aging running back. That, along with some talent at the running back position, makes this the correct move, albeit a tough one. It should not be a knock on the player that his time is now over with the Bears. It also should not be a knock on the current front office. If Matt Forte goes on to find success in the moonlight of his career, no one should fault GM Ryan Pace.

Forte will most likely go to a team that is one piece away due to the risk of his age and his lengthy career. The front-runners would have to be the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers. The Patriots could not find much rhythm without a go-to running back in the postseason and that was part of the reason for them bowing out to the Broncos. Dion Lewis is a young back cut from the mold of a Matt Forte but he is coming off a serious injury and it’s yet to be seen how he recovers. The Packers are in a curious situation as disappointing running back Eddie Lacy is on the last year of his rookie contract. Any wasted year with Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback should be unacceptable but he does need some help. If the Packers are willing to give up on Lacy, Forte does seem like a possible solution for the short-term.

***

The Chicago Bears have as a storied history of running backs as much as any franchise in the NFL. Matt Forte takes his place along with Walter Payton and Gale Sayers as the best. Stories had to be handed down to me on Payton and Sayers but I will be the one passing stories down on Matt Forte. Along with Brian Urlacher, Forte is the best Bear of my lifetime. He will be missed but not forgotten. I will still be wearing my 22 on game day.

Thank you, Matt Forte.

Sincerely,

Casey Boguslaw

(P.S. Please don’t go to the Packers)