New memoir from Matt Forté now available for preorder!

book overview

If you want to make an impact, you need to play every down. Every Game. Every Season.

For ten seasons, Matt Forté was one of the NFL’s premier running backs. During his tenure with the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets, Matt made two Pro Bowl appearances and racked up more career rushes, receptions, and yards from scrimmage than any other football player in the league, a feat made possible in part, because—as an every-down back—Matt never left the field.

No matter the down or distance, Matt always stayed in the game, running, catching, and blocking his way into the record books.

Now, in Stay in the Game, Matt shares the highs and lows of his storied career—from the first time he put on pads at age 7 in Slidell, Louisiana, his college days at Tulane University, and his decade of dominance in the NFL, to the difficult decision to hang up his cleats at age 32, and the work he is currently doing to mentor professional athletes and stop gun violence on the streets of Chicago.

Along the way, Matt gives readers a rare insider’s perspective on:

  • what it takes to make it as an athlete at the collegiate and professional level
  • what it’s like to go through the recruiting process, the combine, and draft day
  • his most memorable plays, games, teammates, and coaches
  • the faith that helped get him through, and
  • what every athlete needs to know about life after professional sports

A thoroughly compelling and inspiring read, Stay in the Game is a testament to the perseverance and grit it takes to succeed, endure, and make a lasting impact both in the NFL and in life.

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About matt

Matt Forte was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. The two-time Pro Bowler amassed 14,468 total yards and 75 TDS in his decade long career in the NFL. Forte set a single-season NFL running back record after hauling in 102 receptions in 2014 and remains one of only four running backs in NFL history to record 100 + receptions and 1,000 + rushing yards in a single season. In retirement  Forté continues to give back to Chicago with the “What’s Your Forté Foundation.” He also started an athleisure clothing brand called Workhorse, mentors pro athletes with his wife Danielle as directors of marriage ministry for (PAO)pro athletes outreach, as well as hosts the Sports Spectrum Podcast.

More by Matt

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My Hair Can
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Mi Cabello Puede

Celebrate what your hair can do! This joyful, rhyming picture book invites diverse girls and boys to embrace their natural hair with an uplifting reminder of their self-worth.

My hair has roots from many places under the sun,
telling the story of my ancestors and where I come from.
I can shake my hair like a baby with a rattle,
or cut it all off to support my friend’s battle.

What can your hair do? From cool curls to crisp fades, from long locs, to beaded braids, bright joyful illustrations of diverse children burst from each page inspiring self-love and positive self-esteem. But hair love is more than knots, locs, and mohawks. Discover the power of cutting your hair in solidarity with a sick friend or celebrating your heritage with hairstyles from your ancestral roots.

My Hair Can is an encouraging reminder for young readers about loving their hair, respecting differences, and celebrating their God-given uniqueness.

  • Features rhyming text perfect for read-aloud book
  • Represents hairstyles of boys and girls
  • Builds positive affirmations, confidence, and self-esteem
  • Emphasizes hair connection to ancestral roots
  • Empowers solidarity with friends
  • Highlights each child’s God-given uniqueness
  • Includes delightful and colorful illustrations

“Forte’s picture book reminds kids to not only see their hair as wonderful creations but also to see their peers as uniquely created too. It’s a call for kids to cut through the lies of the enemy with a thankful, joyful heart and to be confident in God’s extraordinary design.”
–Heriloom Book Club Review Excerpt

Inspire children of multiple ethnicities (ages 4–7) to wear their hair proud.