Veteran running back Matt Forte has announced via his Instagram account today that after 10 years in the pros, the last two in the Jets' offensive backfield, he is retiring as an NFL player.

"After much prayer and reflection, I've decided to retire from the NFL," Forté wrote as part of his heartfelt message to his fans. "I will cherish the many memories made on the field and the lifelong friends I've made over the years in the locker room.

Although much of his message was geared toward the followers of his eight seasons in Chicago, he added, "I'd like to thank the New York Jets organization for the past two years. My experience as a Jet was truly first rate."

Forté came to the Jets as an unrestricted free agent in March 2016 off of eight highly productive, highly versatile seasons as the Bears' featured back. He notched five 1,000-yard rushing seasons in the Windy City plus a 100-catch campaign in 2014 and a career high of 1,933 scrimmage yards in 2013.

The self-described "Work Horse" contributed immediately to the Green & White in 2016 with 813 rushing yards, 1,076 YFS and eight touchdowns. He quickly joined the list of Jets backs with a franchise-record three rushing touchdowns in a game in the Game 2 Thursday night win at Buffalo. And he ran for exactly 100 yards in that game and five weeks later did the same against Baltimore.

This past season Forté had no 100-yard games but three of at least 90 scrimmage yards. And he scored two key TDs in the home Thursday night win over the Bills and one in the wild victory over the Chiefs, both at MetLife Stadium.

Forté ended both '16 and '17 on Injured Reserve with knee injuries that limited him to 26 games and 17 starts in green and white.

For his two-season Jets tenure, he rushed for 1,194 yards and nine touchdowns on 321 carries and added 556 yards and two TDs on 67 receptions.

Forté ends his career, one that could eventually land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, tantalizingly close to reaching two major pro plateaus. He is 204 yards shy of 10,000 rushing yards and 532 yards short of 15,000 scrimmage yards. And his 75 total touchdowns are tied for 78th most in league history.