Oct 22, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears linebackers Brian Urlacher (54) and Lance Briggs (55) gesture before a snap during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
#3 – Bears vs. Falcons: Falcons and Vick Have Nowhere to Go – 2001
Brian Urlacher made life miserable for the young Michael Vick in this game, as Vick entered the game for the injured Chris Chandler. Wherever Vick went, #54 was there, and Urlacher was in Vick’s face from the moment he entered the game. Michael Vick was already known as the most elusive quarterback in the league. However, Vick had a “welcome to the NFL” type of day, thanks to #54. Brian sacked Vick once, forced one fumble, added an interception and recovered a Vick fumble, returning it 90 yards for a touchdown in the Georgiadome. I’ll never forget Urlacher talking to the Falcon cheerleaders as he ran into the end zone to put the Bears up 24-0. It was a coming out game for Brian and a nightmare for Vick. I remember thinking to myself after this game -“This guy is a freak of nature.”
#2 – Bears vs. Packers: Urlacher Strips Ahman Green at the 2 Yard Line – 2004
For some reason, the importance of this play gets overlooked a lot in Urlacher’s career, but not in my house. This play gave me such great personal pleasure, which makes this my second favorite Brian Urlacher moment. The Bears were up 7-3 in Lambeau and Brett Farve and the Pack were at the 2 yard line, about to score and take the lead before halftime. As Favre handed off to RB Ahman Green, Urlacher bolted into the backfield, stripped Green and the ball was recovered by who else – Mike Brown. However, it didn’t end there. Brown picked up the ball and was sprung from a huge block by Urlacher on Favre, who was in pursuit of Brown. Brown took it 95 yards for a touchdown and the Bears eventually won the game. Instead of the Pack taking the lead, the Bears extended their lead and Urlacher leveled Favre, leaving him face down on the turf for several minutes. It was a great moment to be Bear fan and definitely earns its spot at #2 on this list. You can’t get much better than that sequence of events, right????
#1 – Bears vs. Cardinals: Urlacher Takes Over – 2006
This was probably one of the most memorable games in my lifetime, for many reasons. Mainly, it was the play and total takeover by Brian Urlacher. Most people remember the huge comeback win and Devin Hester punt return touchdown, but many forget that Urlacher was the main reason why the Bears won this game. The offense couldn’t do anything, Grossman was terrible and the Bears were down 20-0 in the 3rd quarter. That’s when Brian completely took control of this game smothering Cardinal running back Edgerrin James every time he touched the ball and holding James to a 1.5 YPC average for the game (36 carries, 55 yards). However, it was Urlacher’s strip of James in the 4th quarter, causing a fumble to be picked up by Charles Tillman and taken into the end zone, cutting the Cardinal lead to 6. We all know the ending – the Bears won without scoring a single point on offense and Urlacher finished the game with an unprecedented 19 tackles, 11 solo and 1 forced fumble. It was crystal clear to the whole country, on Monday Night Football, that we were all witnessing greatness and a Hall of Famer. I’ve never witnessed a defensive player take over a game like Brian took over this one.
To Dennis Green – The Bears may have been what you thought they were, but Brian Urlacher apparently was not what you thought he was.
This Urlacher piece is dedicated to one of Urlacher’s greatest fans – my late father, who was with me for every one of these Urlacher moments.
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 54 days from kickoff. Are you ready???