Chicago Sports: 10 athletes who looked odd in different uniforms

4. Matt Forte

Matt Forte was drafted by the Bears in 2008. He started off his NFL career scoring eight touchdowns and rushing for over 1,200 yards during his rookie season. What was special about Forte was the receiving ability he had.

Forte spent his first eight seasons of his career with the Bears. He rushed for 8,602 yards and 45 touchdowns in a Bears’ jersey. He added 4,116 receiving yards and 19 receiving touchdowns. Not a bad career for Forte.

In 2016, he joined the New York Jets. I guess seeing him in New York “Green” is better than Green Bay’s “Green”.

Forte was the heart and soul of the Bears’ running game. He was one of the most consistent players on a rough offense. He dealt with a lot of bad offensive lines and poor quarterback play when Cutler was injured.

He was one of the only players on offense that helped out their generational defense. As Forte left Chicago, a lot of other stars were on their way out too. Marc Trestman and his group of guys were letting successful players go.

Trestman ruined the offense and the defense. John Fox helped fix the defense, but it was too late for players like Forte to enjoy this new defense. He’d play in New York for two seasons. He rushed for 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns in 26 games. He caught 67 passes for 556 yards and two touchdowns.

I expect Forte to be in the Hall of Fame someday. Maybe he isn’t a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he deserves that credit.

Today, you can find him after Bears’ games breaking down the team’s play on NBC Sports Chicago. My only knock on him is his dislike for Mitch Trubisky. He is very good at his job and it’s good to see him back working with the Bears. Imagine Forte and Jordan Howard together. That would have been a great one-two push.