National Football League

RB Matt Forte could be on verge of huge season in new Chicago Bears offense

Published Jun. 2, 2015 8:23 a.m. ET

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The 2014 season was a pretty big year for Matt Forte. He led the team on the ground with 1,038 yards on 266 carries. On top of that, Forte set a single-season NFL record for receptions by a running back with 102, racking up an additional 808 yards.

However, this season, his first under new offensive coordinator Adam Gase, has the potential to be his finest to date.

Gase and head coach John Fox, who both came over from Denver are not used to having a do-it-all workhorse at running back. They've utilized a running back by committee in the past, but this year figures to be different with Forte in the mix, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times.

"[Forte’s] role will define itself as we get going," Gase told the Sun-Times. "We’re still evolving right now."

Forte turns 30 this year and is on the hunt for a new contract, but he has no plans to hold out, according to ESPN's Jeff Dickerson. He's still performing as well as ever, as age has shown little wear on his wheels.

"[I'll play] as long as God allows me to play football and I keep my body healthy," Forte said, per the Sun-Times. "I'm out here at OTAs and I don’t have any injuries—I'm not nursing anything like that. I'm pretty much healthy. I feel like I can continue to play as long as I want to."

Through seven NFL seasons, Forte has accumulated 11,431 yards from scrimmage as one of the league's most versatile backs. This year, he'll be employed as one of Gase's most valuable weapons.

(h/t Chicago Sun-Times)

Photo Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki/USA TODAY Sports