Sep 15, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears outside linebacker
Lance Briggs(55) reacts during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
We had so much fun doing our Countdown to Kickoff series last season that we decided to do it again. In case you’re new to the series, we’ll do a roster preview as we count down the days until the Chicago Bears September 7th season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
He’s the heart and soul of the Chicago Bears defense. He’s strong, he’s tenacious and he continues to carry on the storied tradition of elite Bears linebackers.
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He’s none other than Lance Briggs — and today he’s a reminder that we’re just 55 days away from the season opener.
The 2014 season marks Briggs’ 12th in the league, all of which he has spent with the Bears, the team that drafted him out of Arizona in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Briggs has been named to an incredible seven Pro Bowls and was also a first-team All Pro in 2005. He has racked up 912 tackles during his career, as well as 15 sacks, 15 interceptions, 15 forced fumbles (no this isn’t a typo) and six total touchdowns. He has, without a doubt, been one of the biggest assets and leaders for the Bears defense and deserves serious consideration for a future Hall of Fame nomination.
But first thing’s first — Briggs will need to re-establish both himself and the rest of the Bears defense for the 2014 season. The star linebacker missed seven games in 2013 due to injury and in his absence the Bears looked like an entirely different team. The once-dominant Bear defense was reduced to a shell of its former self and will head into the 2014 campaign with huge question marks surrounding it. Newcomers Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston, Willie Young and Ryan Mundy will undoubtedly help. But Briggs, along with veteran teammate Charles Tillman, will ultimately need to stay healthy in order for the defensive unit to be successful.
Be on the lookout for our Countdown to Kickoff series as we continue to work our way to the season opener on September 7th. We’re 55 days from kickoff. Are you ready???