The Chicago Bears added several free agents these past few months. Perhaps the most forgotten among them is D'Onta Foreman. After losing David Montgomery to free agency, the team quickly added him to fill the void. Foreman rushed for over 900 yards in his best year as a pro last season. Most credit him for reviving what had been a completely lifeless Carolina Panthers offense. Now he's hoping to form a tandem with Khalil Herbert to keep the Bears near the top of the league in rushing.
One would think Foreman has realistic expectations for 2023. He has high standards like anybody else. He plans to play well and expects others to match his energy in trying to win games. However, the running back made it clear in an interview with Aaron Wilson of Click 2 Houston that his standards won't be lowered regardless of the team he's playing on. He knows the Bears were 3-14 last year. That was last year. He aims to shock the world by going all the way. If you're not aiming for the top, what are you doing?
“Just staying focused, learning, growing, understanding that we all have moments,” Foreman said. “I believe early in my career, my moment. I went through some things. I went through a lot of ups and downs, but, right now, just focused on the moment and focused on doing the things that I set out for myself, the goals I want to attain and reach, and hopefully, we can win some games and get to a Super Bowl.”
D'Onta Foreman embodies what the Bears want.
Head coach Matt Eberflus said from the beginning that he would hold all his players to a high standard. A championship standard. No exceptions. The Bears have also gone out of their way to target players that carry the same mentality. Coaches having a high standard is important. The same goes for the players. If they aren't committed to being great, then there is no point in having them on that roster. Foreman is a perfect embodiment of the resiliency this regime seeks.
People often forget what he's gone through in his career. He tore his Achilles during his early years in Houston. After getting cut, he signed with Indianapolis, where he tore his bicep. He bounced between practice squads in Tennessee and Atlanta for the next two years before getting a final opportunity with the Titans in 2021. He stepped up big, helping them make the playoffs. Next year he landed in Carolina and finally put together the kind of season many had always felt he was capable of.
Maybe his story has one final chapter where he leads the Bears back to the Super Bowl. It would be quite the climax.
