Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte has enjoyed an impressive eight-year career in the Windy City. In that time, he has emerged as perhaps the NFL's most dangerous pass-catcher at the position and a work horse three-down back. He has posted five 1,000-yard seasons and six seasons with at least 50 receptions. But after all that, his time with the team may be coming to a close.
Forte will hit the open market once free agency opens on March 9. As things stand now, it doesn't look as if Chicago will bring him back for another season.
"The Bears will not re-sign Matt Forte," ESPN's Jeff Dickerson wrote. "the running back is on record saying the Bears have not approached him about a new deal since the end of the 2015 season. This development comes on the heels of the club rebuffing Forte's request for an extension last offseason when general manager Ryan Pace replaced Phil Emery. Forte has said repeatedly he wants to finish his career in Chicago, but with second-year tailback Jeremy Langford poised to permanently crack the starting lineup in 2016, the Bears are not interested in overpaying to keep Forte, who turns 31 next December. Forte's best bet is to probably sign someplace else. The Bears are unlikely to stand in his way."
It's not as if Forte's production has taken a massive decline. In 13 games this past season, he rushed for 898 yards and four touchdowns on a 4.1 yards-per-carry average. He also caught 44 passes for 389 yards and three additional scores. But given his considerable workload over the years and his advancing age, the Bears are smart to be thinking about the future.
Langford, last year's fourth-rounder, appears to be a solid replacement. He ran for 537 yards and six scores on a 3.6 YPC, but also caught 22 passes for 279 yards. Most of his damage was done during Forte's three-game absence, in which Langford looked comfortable as the No. 1 back.
