| Emmanuel Forbes | |
| Current Team: | Los Angeles Rams |
| Number: | 25 |
| Position: | Cornerback |
| Birth Date: | 13 January 2001 |
| Birth Place: | Grenada, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 0 |
| Weight Lb: | 180 |
| High School: | Grenada (Grenada) |
| College: | Mississippi State (2020–2022) |
| Draftyear: | 2023 |
| Draftround: | 1 |
| Draftpick: | 16 |
| Pastteams: |
|
| Status: | Active |
| Highlights: | |
| Statweek: | 12 |
| Statseason: | 2024 |
| Statlabel1: | Tackles |
| Statvalue1: | 45 |
| Statlabel2: | Sacks |
| Statlabel3: | Forced fumbles |
| Statlabel4: | Fumble recoveries |
| Statlabel5: | Pass deflections |
| Statvalue5: | 12 |
| Statlabel6: | Interceptions |
| Statvalue6: | 2 |
| Statlabel7: | Touchdowns |
| Pfr: | ForbEm00 |
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. (born January 13, 2001) is an American professional football cornerback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and holds the FBS record for most career interceptions returned for a touchdown with six. Forbes was selected by the Washington Commanders in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, playing sparingly prior to being released midway through his second season.
Forbes was born on January 13, 2001, in Grenada, Mississippi.[1] He grew up playing football in youth leagues, often as a quarterback, before attending Grenada High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball.[2] In football, he recorded 49 tackles with eight interceptions as a cornerback, two of which were returned for touchdowns.[3] Forbes also caught 31 passes for 499 yards and seven touchdowns as a wide receiver, and returned a punt and blocked field goal for touchdowns on special teams.[4]
Forbes was considered the second-best prospect in Mississippi's 2020 recruiting class. In December 2019, he signed a National Letter of Intent to play college football for the Bulldogs at Mississippi State University.[5] He had also received several JUCO offers to play college baseball.
Forbes was included on the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team after recording 45 tackles and five interceptions, three of which were returned for a touchdown.[6] [7] He started every game as a sophomore in 2021, recording 59 tackles and three interceptions.[8] [9] [10] He was a consensus All-American as a junior after recording six interceptions with three returned for touchdowns.[11]
Considered a ballhawk,[12] [13] [14] Forbes holds the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) record for most career interceptions returned for a touchdown with six and is fourth in Mississippi State history with 14 interceptions.[15] [16] He also holds school records for the longest interception return at 90 yards, doing so at the 2020 Armed Forces Bowl, and the most interception yards in a season with 183, doing so as a freshman.[17]
| 2020 | 10 | 45 | 23 | 22 | 0.5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13 | 59 | 45 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 12 | 46 | 26 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | |
| Career[18] | 35 | 150 | 94 | 56 | 6.5 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
Forbes was selected by the Washington Commanders in the first round (16th overall) of the 2023 NFL draft. His slim weight is a common point of discussion, with him being the only cornerback drafted since 2000 to weigh under 170 pounds at the NFL Combine.[19] [20] He signed a fully guaranteed four-year $15.4 million contract on July 22, 2023.[21] [22]
Forbes recorded his first career interception in his second game, a 35–33 win over the Denver Broncos.[23] In the Week 4 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, he was criticized for his performance covering wide receiver A. J. Brown.[24] The following week, he was benched after multiple blown coverages against Chicago Bears wide receiver D. J. Moore.[25] [26] In the first quarter of the Week 10 game, Forbes was ejected after an helmet-to-helmet hit against Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett.[27] The NFL fined him for $15,563 for his Week 10 ejection.[28]
Following the opening game of the 2024 season, Forbes underwent surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right thumb.[29] In the Week 6 win over the Carolina Panthers, he recorded his second career interception against quarterback Andy Dalton.[30] Forbes was waived by the team on November 30, 2024.[31]
On December 2, 2024, Forbes was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams.[32]
Forbes is the second-youngest of three siblings. He wears several necklaces for good luck, most featuring the Christian cross, while playing sports and performing daily activities such as showering.[33] His father gave him his first necklace after closing a win as a pitcher in a championship baseball game.[33] Forbes participated in a celebrity softball game at Classic Park in June 2023.[34]