Chicago Bears: 15 greatest linebackers of all time

To many, Brian Urlacher affected the game both on and off the field. Urlacher wasn’t just another icon in Chicago sports rather, he was one of the most notable faces in the NFL during his playing days. Throughout his playing career, players who weren’t on the Bears or never even once had the chance to play with Urlacher acknowledged that he changed the game in multiple ways.

Drafted in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft, Urlacher was versatile enough to play both inside and outside linebacker. In his rookie debut, then-Bears head coach Dick Jauron listed Urlacher as a strong-side linebacker. However, Urlacher would struggle and be benched but regained the starting job in Week 3.

From that point on, Urlacher would restore greatness to the Bears defense. In his rookie season, Urlacher would have 125 tackles, two interceptions and eight sacks. His 125 tackles are the most made by a Bears rookie linebacker in franchise history.

However, his 1,353 tackles are the most in Bears franchise history and Urlacher set an individual career record for tackles in 2002 when he had 153 that season.

Throughout his time in Chicago, Urlacher would be named to eight Pro Bowls, be named a First-Team All-Pro four times and be named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2005. He would also be named to the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team, being one of three Bears to have such an honor.

During the 2013 offseason, the Bears and Urlacher would be unable to come to a new contract, which would eventually lead to Urlacher retiring. Over 13 years, Urlacher would start 182 games which rank third in Bears franchise history behind Walter Payton and Olin Kreutz.

In 2018, Urlacher would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a first-ballot hall of famer. Currently, he’s the latest Bears player to receive this honor. He listed helping lead the Bears to the Super Bowl in 2006 as his favorite memory during his time with the Bears.