Emmanuel Forbes

Emmanuel Forbes Jr. (born January 13, 2001) is an American football cornerback for the Washington Commanders 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 Commanders in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Early life
Forbes was born on January 13, 2001, in Grenada, Mississippi. He grew up playing football in youth leagues, often as a quarterback, before attending Grenada High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. In football he recorded 49 tackles with eight interceptions as a cornerback, two of which were returned for touchdowns. 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.

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. He had also received several JUCO offers to play college baseball.

College career
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. He started every game as a sophomore in 2021, recording 59 tackles and three interceptions. He was a consensus All-American as a junior after recording six interceptions with three returned for touchdowns.

Considered a ballhawk, 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. 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.

Professional career


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. He signed a fully guaranteed four-year $15.4 million contract on July 22, 2023.

Forbes recorded his first career interception in his second game, a 35–33 win over the Denver Broncos. In the Week 4 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, he was widely criticized for his poor performance covering wide receiver A. J. Brown. The following week, Forbes was benched on Thursday Night Football after multiple blown coverages against Chicago Bears wide receiver D. J. Moore. Following the benching, Forbes was downgraded on the team's depth chart and removed from the defense's starting lineup. In the first quarter of the Week 10 game, Forbes was ejected after an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit against Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett. The NFL would fine Forbes for $15,563 for his Week 10 ejection.

Personal life
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. His father gave him his first necklace after closing a win as a pitcher in a championship baseball game. Forbes participated in a celebrity softball game at Classic Park in June 2023.