Chicago Bears Top 100: #9 Brian Urlacher

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Urlacher came back strong in 2010 with 126 tackles, 4 sacks and an interception. The Bears defense was much better as well with their leader back and the Bears finished 11-5 securing a first round bye in the playoffs. Urlacher was named defensive player of the Month (December) for the 1st time in his career and made his 7th Pro Bowl. Despite being 33 years old in 2011, Urlacher was still a beast. He racked up 102 tackles, picked off 3 passes and made his 8th and final Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, Urlacher sprained his MCL with 5 minutes to go in a meaningless week 17 game.

Urlacher came back from his MCL injury in 2012 but it was clear that he had lost a step or two. He was still an effective MLB but got by on brains instead of the elite athleticism he had early in his career. Urlacher finished with career lows in tackles (68), big plays (0 sacks, 1 int) and was ranked as the 28th best MLB by Pro Football Focus (-8.2 grade), but the defense was clearly better with him on the field since he called the plays and made sure everyone was in the right place.

After the 2012 season the Bears made a contract offer (1 year, $2M) that Urlacher found insulting. He was rumored to want $6-$7 Mil and the negotiations became acrimonious. Eight days after Urlacher officially became a free agent, the Bears announced that Urlacher would not be returning to the team. It was a sad day in Chicago as #54 was a fan favorite. He had clearly slipped as a player, but still had value and fans were split on whether the Bears made the right move. I’m not sure Urlacher would have made much of a difference, but the 2013 Bears defense finished the season as the worst statistical defense in Bears history.

Urlacher announced his retirement roughly two months after the Bears announcement that they weren’t bringing him back. Urlacher has made it clear that he was unhappy with how he had been treated by the Bears current brass, commenting regularly about the mistakes Emery has made. Urlacher’s playing days are done, despite the fact that some fans think he should still be playing MLB for the Bears, but he was one of the greatest Bears middle linebackers of all-time and it’s a shame that he isn’t involved with the franchise in some capacity.

In his 13 years with the Bears Urlacher finished as the Bears all-time tackle leader (1,779) and had 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and two defensive touchdowns. He is third in Bears history in games started with 180 behind just the great Walter Payton and Olin Kruetz. Urlacher made 8 Pro Bowls, 4 All-NFL teams, was NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, NFL Defensive Player of the Year, won both the Brian Piccolo and Ed Block awards, and made the NFL’s All-Decade Team (2000s). It’s just a matter a of time until Urlacher is a Hall of Famer as well.

What do you think of the ranking?  Too high?  Too low?  I guess you’ll have to check back to see who finished ahead of him to judge for yourself.  We’ll be counting down a different person each day as we inch our way to the September 7th season opener.