The only other recent Bear (other than Kyle Long) to make the list is Brian Urlacher. The Bears selected him No. 9 overall in the 2000 NFL Draft out of New Mexico.
Urlacher started the season as an outside linebacker and struggled at times at the position. Once the Bears decided to move him to middle linebacker, he excelled and became destined for Canton.
Urlacher was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2000, he was named to eight Pro Bowls, was First-Team All-Pro four times, was NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 and was named to the NFL 200s All-Decade Team.
He was the leader of the great Bears’ defense in 2005 that carried the Rex Grossman-led offense to the Super Bowl. That was the same season where he had his great game against the Arizona Cardinals where he and Devin Hester single-handedly won that game prompting Dennis Green to go into his famous, “They are who we thought they were!” tirade.
Urlacher was a great tackler, a tremendous athlete and a fan favorite. He hasn’t been playing at Soldier Field for five years, but there are probably more Urlacher jerseys in the stands than any other player.