Chicago Bears: Matt Forte already among Bears greats
Forte sets new standard for running backs in 2014
Though one has to acknowledge that Forte played a time with many great NFC running backs, it’s still a bit amazing that he never made an All-Pro team.
He made two Pro Bowls, the 2008 All-Rookie Team and made the NFL’s Top 100 list four times (2012, 2014-2016). But somehow, he flew under the radar enough not to make even Second-Team All-Pro.
That feels like a shame, especially when you take into account just how much he accomplished as a Bear. And that includes setting a record that embodied just how impactful he was.
In the midst of the Chicago Bears’ 5-11 campaign in 2014, Forte broke the single-season record for most receptions by a running back with 102. He also tied his career-high in receiving touchdowns with four, the most since his rookie year.
For perspective, only three men had more receptions than Forte did in 2014: Antonio Brown, Demaryius Thomas and Julio Jones.
Combine that with the 1,038 rushing yards he had that year, and he accounted for 35.3% of the Bears’ 5,233 total yards.
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That’s incredible. When people say Forte was the 2014 Chicago Bears offense, that’s not entirely an exaggeration.
That performance, as well as all the other things he did as Bear, mark Forte as a truly unique player in franchise history.
Not only did he average 1,075 yards a season with the Bears, topping the 1,000-yard mark five times, he never caught more than 44 passes in his eight seasons in Chicago. Three times, he caught over 60 balls, and he topped 500 yards receiving five times.
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It wasn’t always flashy and eye-popping with Matt Forte, but man was he a great player for the Chicago Bears. And he deserves all the recognition in the world for the greatness he brought to Chicago in that time.