Chicago Bears: Franchise defining moments of the 2010s

2. Brian Urlacher’s retirement

The face of the Bears franchise in the 21st century, Brian Urlacher redefined what it meant to be a part of the Chicago Bears. While most of his dominance came in the 2000s, Urlacher was still a great player well into the 2010s.

At the end of the 2012 season, with his longtime head coach Lovie Smith gone, Urlacher and the Bears would be unable to come to a new contract extension that would see him eventually retire. What makes this so significant is that it was such a sudden retirement that the Bears eventually would go years without quality middle linebacker play in the middle of the defense until Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan arrived just two years apart.

In 2018, Urlacher would end up being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame being the latest Bears player to do so. Between 2010 and 2012, over a three-year period, Urlacher would have 233 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, and five interceptions. It’s no secret that linebackers have always been the face of the Bears defense, however, Urlacher retiring also meant that the Bears best player on defense in the 21st century.

Anytime a great player like Urlacher retires, it’s always a significant moment for a team because the team isn’t just losing a great player, they’re losing a leader that’s also meant so much to the heart and soul of the fanbase as well, all things that Urlacher exemplifies during his time here in Chicago.