Matt Forte - A Look Back At A Football Career
When we talk about athletes who truly leave their mark on the game, especially in American football, the name Matt Forte often comes up in conversation. He was, you know, a running back who played for quite a stretch of time in the National Football League, giving his all for a full ten seasons. It’s a remarkable period for any player in such a physically demanding sport, and he certainly made his presence felt on the field.
Born on December the tenth, back in nineteen eighty-five, Matthew Garrett Forte grew into a professional football player who really showed what it means to be a versatile and durable force. His time in the league saw him carry the ball many, many times, catch it out of the backfield with skill, and ultimately score a good number of times for his teams. He wasn't just a player who showed up; he was someone who consistently performed at a very high level, making big contributions to the Chicago Bears and later, the New York Jets.
So, if you’re curious about what made him such a standout figure, or perhaps you want to get a better sense of his journey from college to the big leagues, we’re going to take a closer look at his professional life. We'll explore some of the key moments and important numbers that really tell the story of his time playing the sport, giving you, like, a fuller picture of what he accomplished before he decided to step away from the game for good.
Table of Contents
- Biography of Matt Forte
- What Was Matt Forte's Playing Role?
- How Did Matt Forte Get His Start in the NFL?
- What Were Matt Forte's Career Achievements?
- Why Did Matt Forte Choose to Retire?
Biography of Matt Forte
Matthew Garrett Forte, a name that resonates with many football fans, was born on a chilly December day, specifically the tenth, in nineteen eighty-five. This makes him, in a way, a player who came up through the ranks during a particular period of the game’s history, adapting to how things changed over his time playing. He grew up, as many American athletes do, with a passion for sports, eventually focusing his considerable talents on football. His path led him through college, where he honed his abilities, before making the jump to the professional circuit. It’s quite a journey for anyone to go from being a young person with a dream to someone playing at the very top level of their chosen field. He spent a significant portion of his professional time with one team, the Chicago Bears, really becoming a recognizable figure there, before moving on to another well-known team, the New York Jets, to finish out his playing days. This kind of longevity, playing for a full decade, is something that really speaks to a player’s dedication and also, just how good they are at what they do. It’s a tough sport, and to stay in it for that long means you have to be something special, which Matt Forte, you know, absolutely was.
Personal Details - Matt Forte
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matthew Garrett Forte |
| Birthdate | December 10, 1985 |
| Position | Running Back |
| College | Tulane University |
| NFL Teams | Chicago Bears, New York Jets |
| NFL Seasons | 10 |
| Pro Bowl Selections | 2 |
What Was Matt Forte's Playing Role?
So, what exactly did Matt Forte do when he was out there on the field, wearing those pads and a helmet? He was, basically, a running back, which is a position that has some very specific responsibilities in American football. A running back is often the person who takes the ball from the quarterback and tries to run it forward, gaining ground for their team. This means they need to be able to burst through small openings, break tackles, and keep their balance while being hit by very large, very fast people. It’s a physically demanding job, requiring a good mix of strength, speed, and quick thinking. But Matt Forte wasn't just someone who ran with the ball; he was, in a way, a true all-around player. He also had a remarkable ability to catch passes. This made him a real threat in the passing game, too, which isn't always the case for running backs. Some running backs are mostly just for running, but he could do both really well. This versatility meant that defenses had a harder time figuring out what his team was going to do when he was on the field. They couldn’t just assume he was going to run; he might, you know, pop out into the open and catch a pass, too. This ability to contribute in multiple ways made him a truly valuable part of any offense he was on, giving his coaches more options and, in turn, making his teams more unpredictable and harder to stop. He could, quite simply, be counted on to get the job done, whether it was carrying the ball or catching it.
How Did Matt Forte Get His Start in the NFL?
Every professional football player has a beginning, and for Matt Forte, that big moment came through the annual NFL Draft. This is where teams pick college players they believe will make good professional athletes. It’s a huge day for young players, a culmination of years of hard work and dreaming. For Matt Forte, his moment arrived in the two thousand and eight draft. He was chosen by the Chicago Bears, a team with a long and storied past in the league. The Bears picked him in the second round, which is, you know, a pretty high selection. To be picked in the second round means that out of all the college players available that year, he was among the top group, seen as someone with significant potential to contribute right away. Specifically, he was the forty-fourth player chosen overall across all the rounds, which, again, really shows how highly regarded he was by the professional scouts and general managers. It’s a very competitive process, with thousands of college players hoping to get a chance, and only a relatively small number actually get picked. So, for him to go so early in the draft was a clear sign that the Bears, and many others, saw something special in his playing style and abilities. This pick, in a way, set the stage for his entire professional career, giving him his first opportunity to prove himself at the highest level of the sport, which he certainly did.
The Draft Pick of Matt Forte
The decision by the Chicago Bears to select Matt Forte in the second round, at the forty-fourth overall spot in the two thousand and eight NFL Draft, was, apparently, a very smart move for their team. Coming out of Tulane University, a place where he had already shown a lot of skill and promise, he was considered a player who could make an immediate impact. The draft process itself is a long one, with scouts watching players for years, analyzing their every move on the field, and trying to figure out if their college success will translate to the much tougher professional game. For Matt Forte, the Bears saw something they liked, a blend of running ability, receiving skills, and, you know, just a general toughness that they felt would fit well with their team’s style of play. Being a second-round pick also carries a certain level of expectation; these players are usually expected to become starters and key contributors, not just backups. He certainly lived up to that expectation, and then some. This moment, getting that phone call on draft day, is often described by players as one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking experiences of their lives. For Matt Forte, it marked the official start of his professional football journey, moving from the college fields of Tulane to the bright lights of the National Football League, ready to take on the challenge.
What Were Matt Forte's Career Achievements?
When you look back at Matt Forte’s time playing professional football, it’s clear he put together a very impressive body of work. He played for a full ten seasons, which, as we’ve talked about, is a really long time in a sport where careers can be quite short due to injuries and the sheer physical toll. During those ten years, split between the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets, he piled up some truly remarkable numbers that speak volumes about his skill and his staying power. He was someone who could be counted on to consistently gain ground for his team, whether he was running with the ball or catching it. His ability to do both at a high level made him a unique and valuable asset. It’s not often you see a running back who is just as dangerous catching passes as he is taking handoffs. This dual threat really set him apart from many others who played his position. He was also recognized by his peers and by the fans for his outstanding play, earning selections to the Pro Bowl, which is a special game where the best players from each conference get to compete. Being chosen for two Pro Bowls is a clear sign that he was considered among the top players at his position during his time, a real testament to his consistent high-level performance and his impact on the game.
Impressive Numbers for Matt Forte
Let's take a closer look at some of the statistics that really show just how much Matt Forte contributed during his professional career. He had, in total, two thousand three hundred and fifty-six times he took the ball and ran with it, which is a massive number of carries for any running back. With all those carries, he gained an incredible nine thousand seven hundred and ninety-six yards on the ground. That’s nearly ten thousand rushing yards, which is a huge milestone for any player at his position, putting him in a fairly exclusive group of running backs who have achieved such a feat. But, as we mentioned, he wasn't just a runner. He also caught the ball a lot, making five hundred and fifty-four catches during his career. These catches added up to four thousand six hundred and seventy-two receiving yards, which is, honestly, a very high number for a running back and shows just how good he was at being a pass-catcher out of the backfield. When you combine his running and receiving, he was responsible for moving the ball down the field a tremendous amount. And, of course, the ultimate goal is to score points. Matt Forte did that seventy-five times, getting the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. These seventy-five touchdowns represent a significant contribution to his teams' scoring efforts over his ten seasons. These numbers, when you look at them, paint a clear picture of a player who was consistently productive, versatile, and a true scoring threat, which is, you know, pretty much what every team wants in a key offensive player.
Why Did Matt Forte Choose to Retire?
Like all professional athletes, there comes a time when they decide to step away from the game they’ve dedicated so much of their lives to. For Matt Forte, that moment arrived when he decided to, as they say, hang up his cleats and walk away from football. He made this announcement on a Wednesday, letting everyone know that his playing days were officially over. It’s a very personal decision for any athlete, often coming after a lot of thought about their body, their future, and what’s best for them and their families. After ten seasons of the constant physical demands of being a running back in the NFL, it’s understandable that a player would reach a point where they feel it’s time to move on to the next chapter of their life. The wear and tear on a player’s body in football is, you know, immense, especially for someone who carries the ball as often as Matt Forte did. So, his decision to retire, after such a long and successful run, was a natural progression for someone who had given so much to the sport. It marked the end of his active playing career, but it certainly didn't erase all the amazing things he accomplished and the impact he had on the teams he played for and the fans who watched him.
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