Chicago Bears rookie running back Matt Forte was a virtual unknown entering the NFL season, but is quickly becoming a fan favorite not only for his performance on the field but for his generosity off the field as well.

There is no denying the success that Forte has had on the playing field for the Bears this season, but the Christmas joy he brought to 12-year old Jake Taylor of Springboro, Ohio over the weekend may trump all else. Well, at least in young Jake's eyes.

During a Christmas gathering held by Jake's parents Doug and Ellen Taylor, the youngster could be seen whisking about the house wearing his favorite NFL player's jersey, Matt Forte. Not to mention the very noticeable autographed Forte jersey that hung from the wall of his dad's office when you walked in. The 12-year old used the money he earned babysitting to buy the jersey off eBay after the Bears drafted Forte.

Jake has always been a Chicago fan but wasn't too impressed with running back Cedric Benson, who is now with the Cincinnati Bengals. Jake was elated when the team drafted Forte in the second round of this year's draft.

As it turns out, one of the guests in attendance knew Forte's agent, Adisa Bakari, and got a kick out of seeing the kid running around proudly wearing the jersey. The guest gave the agent a call to see if there was any chance of getting the player on the phone to speak with his No. 1 fan as part of a Christmas gift.

Bakari didn't hesitate to offer his assistance to make this dream come true, but stated that he couldn't guarantee his client would be available. However, five minutes later the phone rang and Forte was on the line waiting to speak to Jake.

By the look on Jake's face when he heard Forte's voice, you would have thought the player had walked into the room. His face lit up like a Christmas tree. It was priceless moment and a complete surprise. The two spoke for a few very enthusiastic minutes.

According to Dad, his son had been telling him since the start of the season that Forte would be Rookie of the Year. Now he will be MVP to Jake for as long as he is in the league. The memory will last forever.

More often than not we hear about all the negative things with high-profile athletes and you seldom hear the good that they do. For me, the act of generosity displayed by Forte speaks volumes. He could have easily declined the request but didn't. I'm sure he had a lot of things on his mind.

For instance, Forte sustained a toe injury during last Thursday night's game against the New Orleans Saints, which caused him to miss a large portion of the first half. Although he was treated and returned to the game there was still some cause for concern. The Bears must have a healthy Forte if they are to make a run at the playoffs.

The rookie back has revitalized the Bears' running game and is an integral part of the offense, producing 37 percent of the team's total yards. Forte has also shown his versatility by leading the team in receiving.

In 14 games this season, Forte has rushed for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns along with 424 yards receiving and four touchdowns.

The injury aside, Forte giving a few minutes of his time to deliver some Christmas cheer will have a profound effect on this child for a lifetime.

Merry Christmas, Jake!