After a 10-year stint in the NFL, Matt Forte is hanging up the cleats.
The former Chicago Bears and New York Jets running back finished his career with 9,796 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns. A receiving threat out the backfield, Forte caught 554 passes for 4,672 yards and 21 touchdowns. He broke the record for the most receptions by a running back in a single season with 102 catches in 2014.
No player gained more scrimmage yards in the last 10 seasons than @MattForte22@ChicagoBears@nyjets pic.twitter.com/pm63WkQJ3a
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) February 28, 2018
Here are some of the biggest moments in Forte’s career:
Stealing the show on Opening Night at Lucas Oil Stadium (Sept. 8, 2008) – Forte started his NFL career with a bang under the Sunday night lights. A rookie out of Tulane University, he rushed 23 times for 123 yards and a touchdown. The Chicago Bears would go on to beat the Indianapolis Colts, 29-13, in the Colts’ first game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Opening 2010 with back-to-back game-winning catches – In 2010, Forte took a screen pass 89 yards to pay dirt against the Detroit Lions. He also added the game-winning 28-yard touchdown catch to help the Bears to a 19-14 win. A week later against the Dallas Cowboys, Forte’s 3-yard snag late in the game would help Chicago to the 27-20 win.
Biggest rushing game (October 2, 2011) – Forte rushed for 205 yards on 25 carries in the Bears’ 34-29 road win against the Carolina Panthers. The game was his only 200-yard rushing day of his career. He had runs of 46, 40 and 20 yards and scored from 17 yards out.
Breaking the NFL record for receptions in a season by a running back (December 28, 2014) – On the final game of the 2014 season, Forte needed eight catches to break the NFL record for the most receptions in a single season. He hit that number, totaling 102 catches on the season, breaking the record previously held by Larry Centers.
Best highlight – (October 24, 2011) – The Bears traveled to London to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2011. Forte opened up the scoring with this nifty run against the Buccaneers’ defense that literally had two players grasping for air on the play. Forte finished the day with 145 yards rushing and the touchdown as the Bears held off Tampa Bay, 24-18.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fOUs8P89Qc&feature=youtu.be&t=8s
RELATED LINKS:
– Matt Forte says goodbye to the NFL after 10 seasons
– NEW PODCAST: Matt Forte, New York Jets RB
– Football Sunday 2018: Matt Forte on Serving God
