Former Green Wave standout and Chicago Bears star Matt Forté (B ’09) returned to his alma mater to headline a Wave Weekend conversation in which he traced his journey from a football-obsessed child in Slidell, to a record-setting Tulanian, to one of the most versatile and respected running backs in the National Football League.
As part of his Presidential Speaker Series, Tulane University President Michael A. Fitts welcomed Forté to a packed Dixon Hall, where the crowd included dozens of cheering Chicago Bears fans. Fitts described Forté as someone who “epitomizes the Tulane principle of ‘not for oneself but for one’s own’.”
“He has a unique combination of intelligence, determination, natural talent and grit that defined his success, not just on the gridiron but in life,” Fitts said.
Forté, who played 10 seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets, set an NFL record for receptions by a running back in a single season and is one of only three players in league history to record at least 1,000 rushing yards and 100 receptions in a single year.
His new memoir, “Stay in the Game: Making the Most of Every Season”, blends stories from his football journey with reflections on family, faith and the lessons that shaped his views on success, resilience and legacy. He will sign copies of his book when he returns to campus for the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University March 12-15.
“When you choose to go to Tulane, it’s not a four-year decision. It’s a 40-year decision,” Forté said, noting his finance degree from the A. B. Freeman School of Business prepared him for life after football. “When you get your Tulane degree, it really means something.”
Forté said Tulane taught him what it truly means to be a student athlete — and how he had to stay committed to his studies to prepare for life after football. It is a message he emphasizes whenever he speaks with college athletes.
As a Tulanian, Forté was one of the most accomplished players in Green Wave football history. In his senior year, he earned first-team All-Conference USA honors, Associated Press third-team All-America recognition and semifinalist spots for several national awards.
Forté traced his love of football to his preschool years when he became obsessed with the game while living in Lake Charles. His father Gene, a former Tulane defensive lineman and team captain, wouldn’t allow him to play until he was 7. By then, the family had moved to Slidell.
“I remember the day we signed up and they gave you your helmet and shoulder pads, and I think I slept in the pads that night,” he said.
Drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bears in 2008, Forté spent eight seasons in Chicago and two with the New York Jets before retiring.
His What’s Your Forté Foundation, founded by him and his wife in 2013, supports youth in the Chicago area through family services, economic empowerment and educational programming. The couple also partners with Pro Athletes Outreach to help professional athletes navigate financial and personal challenges.
Forté says these efforts have helped him find his purpose off the field.
Photo by Kenny Lass
