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Justin Forsett:Walking by Faith,Not by SightBy Jennifer Burroughs

On Sept. 3, 2016, a universal gasp was heard around Baltimore. Tweets from several national media members left an entire city confused.

“Wow. The #Ravens are cutting Justin Forsett,” read one from a prominent NFL reporter.

Minutes later, an official team transaction report was sent out confirming just that; Justin Forsett had been released from the Baltimore Ravens. While understandably dismayed reactions began to pour in, something didn’t quite feel right about the news.

After two days, radio silence from the front Ravens’ front office and a cryptic tweet reading, “The plot thickens #Godisincontrol” from Justin himself, Forsett rejoined the team, and all was right in the football world.

So, what happened? A risky move with Forsett opened up doors for other players to be retained and signed before they could bring him back to his rightful position on the roster. This was great for the Ravens and minimally destructive, with Forsett in the loop the entire time. But how did he take being fired?

“I’ve been cut three times before this with no guarantees of coming back,” Forsett explained. “It’s tough. Even though you have trust in the guys handling the business, it’s still a tough pill to swallow.”

While the Pro Bowl running back was prepared for the worst, he had faith in Ravens management and his own journey. The same faith that saw him through his latest trial had been a reoccurring theme in his life from the beginning.

In 2002, Rodney Forsett Sr. moved the Forsett family, complete with wife, Albertina, and three boys, Rodney Jr. ‘Ray,’ Justin and Javon, from Mulberry, Fla. to Arlington, Texas. The minister and coach took a new position with a church when Justin was 16 years old.

Standing at 5 feet, 8 inches as a junior transfer student, Forsett was one of the smallest on the football field at Grace Preparatory Academy. But along the way, he added “mighty” to his designation, leading his team to two Texas private school championship titles in his junior and senior seasons.

The University of Notre Dame was the first to offer Forsett a full athletic scholarship – only to rescind its offer a week before signing day, citing his height as the reason. He eventually attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he would play four seasons, ending his career

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ranked third in school history with 3,220 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns. That is also where he met his future wife and Team USA Volleyball player, Angie.

“Since then, I’ve reminded myself that wherever I happen to be, I’m there for a reason. I just may not see it at the time,” Forsett explains.

Breaking into the NFL proved to be just as much of an uphill battle, but Justin stayed grounded. So grounded in fact, he waited until the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft to be selected by the Seattle Seahawks.

He spent the next four years as a backup to college teammate and close friend Marshawn Lynch, eagerly awaiting his time to show what he had to offer in Seattle. That time never came, however, as Forsett was released at the end of the 2011 campaign. He then had year-long stints in Houston and Jacksonville before injuring his foot and being placed on Injured Reserve for the rest of the 2013 season.

During a stroll around the Jacksonville area with Angie, and oldest son, Judah, Forsett

began to come to grips with the fact that he may never play football again.

“Angie asked me what I wanted to do when I was done with football,” he continued. “I started reflecting back on my career like, ‘Did I really maximize the platform that I had to

affect change and really serve?’ I’ve always done stuff in the community, but did I really have an impact on people’s lives? From that point on, I knew if I ever got a chance to wear the NFL shield again, I would make sure I maximized my platform to help people.”

Forsett got that opportunity again and hit the ground running after signing with the Ravens in 2014. He went on to earn his first-career Pro Bowl by producing 1,266 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in his inaugural Baltimore season.

Even after this success, and complete adoption by the people of Charm City, Forsett still felt there was more to be done off the field. A shining moment in his upbringing reminded him of his true calling.

“I remember after church sometimes we would be driving back home, and my dad would pick up strangers off the street and drop them off at their houses. As I got older, I began to understand why he was doing what he was doing.”

With the memory of his father’s acts of kindness on replay in his brain, Forsett hit the ground running. Again.

Whether it is organizing a group to help fund and deliver water to the citizens of Flint, Mich., visiting patients to spread cheer at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and Union Memorial Hospital, planting trees at a local park to help the environment, or visiting at-risk youth at California’s San Quentin State Prison – Justin provides help.

“I just like helping so many people. I don’t want to feel like I’m tied down to one thing. I want to help where I’m called to help. From widows and orphans to natural disasters, it’s all important to me.”

Most recently, Forsett donated $2,500 worth of ShowerPill athletic body wipes and $7,500 to flood relief efforts in Baton Rouge, La. While on the team’s trip to New Orleans for the final preseason game, he also took time to volunteer with the United Way in that area.

The humble football star is never one to expect attention or recognition for his work, but that is exactly what he received for his latest humanitarian efforts. Shortly after NFL Kickoff Week concluded, Forsett was named the NFLPA Week 1 Community MVP for his work in Baton Rouge.

“It was truly a blessing to be able to help those affected by the flood. The strength and courage of that community was inspiring and encouraging. I believe we are blessed to be a blessing to others, so I’m just glad I could help.”

With this honor also comes more opportunity for Justin to serve. The NFLPA and Delta Private Jets plan to make a donation to Forsett and the charity of his choosing for his continued dedication to communities in need.

This investment in Justin will go to great use, as the ShowerPill part-owner already has plans to expand his horizons and take his philanthropy efforts global.

Angie Forsett

JudahZion

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“I want to be able to help serve people. I want to use every platform I have,” said Forsett. “With my business, I would love to one day be able to go overseas and help people that don’t have access to necessities like clean water.”

The entrepreneur also has plans to start writing a book after the 2016 season, all while developing his career as a traveling motivational speaker, offering encouraging words and his own testimony of faith to those in need of emotional support and guidance.

In full-circle self-reflection, the father of two – with another one on the way – hopes to be the same role model for his children as his father was to him. These lofty goals would seem daunting to another, but Justin has no doubt he can accomplish them all, using his faith as a guide.

“It’s my faith. I believe that I’m here to do greater things than football. I want to make a lasting impression while I’m here on earth and make sure I’m pleasing God with the talents and gifts that he has given me.”