Feb. 12--After eight seasons, Matt Forte's time as a Chicago Bear has come to an end. In an Instagram announcement posted Friday, Forte revealed that the Bears recently informed him they won't make an effort to re-sign him next month when his contract expires. That announcement closes the back cover on Forte's productive career in Chicago, a stretch during which he totaled 12,718 yards from scrimmage with 64 touchdowns. Here's a quick look back on Forte's ride as a Bear.
The beginning: Forte officially became a Bear on April 26, 2008, drafted in the second round (44th overall) to add competition to a backfield that included Cedric Benson, Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe. Said then-GM Jerry Angelo: "He has enough speed to get to the outside. And he has the ability to make people miss at the second level. Those were two areas where we never really could find any consistency, which made us an easy team to defend."
First game: Forte's regular season debut was a 23-carry, 123-yard outburst in prime time, a fitting introduction on "Sunday Night Football" in the first game played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. That performance included a nifty 50-yard first quarter touchdown run that sparked a 29-13 victory over the Colts. "You got a chance to see what we've been seeing all the time," guard Roberto Garza said.
Longest run: Forte ripped off a 68-yard TD run early in a 23-6 win at Carolina in Week 5 of 2010. That score came on a run up the middle that the running back bounced to his left and then burst through a hole outside to find daylight. Forte scored twice and topped 100 yards on his first four carries possessions of that win.
Biggest game: In 2011, Forte registered his only career 200-yard game, breaking free for 205 yards on 25 carries. He broke off runs of 46, 40 and 20 yards and also scored a 17-yard TD as the Bears rolled to a 34-29 win.
Best season: Forte rushed for a career-best 1,339 yards in 2013, the Bears' first season under coach Marc Trestman. He earned his second invitation to the Pro Bowl that season, also adding 74 catches for 594 yards and scoring 12 total TDs.
Record recap: Forte ranks second in Bears history behind only Walter Payton in six major categories: rushing yards (8,602); 100-yard games (24); catches (487); receiving yards by a running back (4,116); yards from scrimmage (12,718) and scrimmage yards per game (106.0).
Forte's 45 rushing TDs rank fourth behind Payton (110), Neal Anderson (51) and Rick Casares (49).
Forte's 487 catches are the most by an NFL running back since the start of the 2008 season. His 12,718 yards from scrimmage are also a league-most since he entered the league.
Forte topped 1,000 rushing yards five times and 1,500 total yards four times.
Last game: On Jan. 3, Forte rushed for 76 yards in the Bears' season finale loss to the Lions. He scored his 64th and final TD as a Bear on a 23-yard reception that tied the game at 17. Following a 24-20 loss, Forte took extra time to high-five fans before heading back to the locker room. "If this was the last game that I play in Soldier Field," he said, "I didn't want to leave without telling the fans that I appreciate them in person."
The end: Not long after Forte issued his formal farewell Friday, Bears GM Ryan Pace released a statement expressing the organization's thanks. Said Pace: "Matt is one of the all-time great Bears and did an excellent job for us on and off the field last season. He was a tremendous teammate."
dwiederer@tribpub.com
