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Matt Forte has been informed by the Chicago Bears that he will not be resigned, with the Bears looking to move on to the younger Jeremy Langford.
Matt Forte in the second-half of his career at 30 years old, having played seven years in the NFL. His entire career thus far has been with the Chicago Bears after they drafted him in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. In addition to his age, injuries are another concern as the workhorse back missed three games in 2015 due to knee issues.
Still, even at this stage in his career, Forte is incredibly productive running out of the backfield:
Year | Team | G | Att | Att/G | Yds | Avg | Yds/G | TD | Lng | 1st | 1st% | 20+ | 40+ | FUM |
2015 | Chicago Bears | 13 | 218 | 16.8 | 898 | 4.1 | 69.1 | 4 | 27 | 46 | 21.1 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
2014 | Chicago Bears | 16 | 266 | 16.6 | 1,038 | 3.9 | 64.9 | 6 | 32 | 63 | 23.7 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
2013 | Chicago Bears | 16 | 289 | 18.1 | 1,339 | 4.6 | 83.7 | 9 | 55 | 74 | 25.6 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
2012 | Chicago Bears | 15 | 248 | 16.5 | 1,094 | 4.4 | 72.9 | 5 | 46 | 45 | 18.1 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
He has also been an extremely underrated pass-catcher:
Year | Team | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | Yds/G | Lng | TD | 20+ | 40+ | 1st | FUM |
2015 | Chicago Bears | 13 | 44 | 389 | 8.8 | 29.9 | 38 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
2014 | Chicago Bears | 16 | 102 | 808 | 7.9 | 50.5 | 56 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 28 | 1 |
2013 | Chicago Bears | 16 | 74 | 594 | 8.0 | 37.1 | 34 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
2012 | Chicago Bears | 15 | 44 | 340 | 7.7 | 22.7 | 47 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
Forte was born Lake Charles, Louisiana, was raised in Slidell, and played college football at Tulane University. With Tim Hightower, Travaris Cadet and Khiry Robinson set to be free agents, and newly signed Vick Ballard out of football for the previous two years, should the Saints consider bringing in Matt Forte to pair with Mark Ingram in the New Orleans backfield?
What do you think? Vote in the poll. Explain your answers in the comments. Got a different running back you'd like to see the Saints target? Tell us. Send me presents.