Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff: 54 Days with Brian Urlacher

Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff continues today with 54 days remaining until the start of the season, meaning that today's installment will focus on the life and career of the best player in franchise history to wear the number 54, Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher.

Brian Urlacher's path from Washington to New Mexico to the Chicago Bears

Originally hailing from Pasco, Washington, Urlacher grew up with his siblings and mother in Lovington, New Mexico, where he began to develop an affinity for several sports, including basketball, track, and of course, football. At Lovington High School, Urlacher was a star in all phases of the game, splitting time as a running back and wide receiver on offense, a defensive back on defense, and even a returner on special teams.

As a versatile player who made an impact on every aspect of the game, Urlacher led Lovington to an undefeated record as a senior, helping the school win the Class 3A State Championship. Widely regarded as perhaps the best high school football player in New Mexico state history, Urlacher accepted a scholarship from the nearby University of New Mexico, where he would become an integral part of the Lobo's program.

Upon joining the team, Urlacher was advised by head coach Dennis Franchione to make a switch from safety to linebacker, but the defensive specialist was used sparingly throughout his first two seasons. Heading into his junior season, the team relieved Franchione of his position and brought in Rocky Long as his replacement, who helped unlock Urlacher's true potential in the college setting.

Long creatively decided to use Urlacher as somewhat of a gadget player, taking occasional snaps on offense and even serving as the team's punt returner. While getting a blazing fast 6'4", 240 lbs athlete the ball in open space is a good idea, Urlacher made himself a household name at the college level for his defensive prowess.

As an upperclassman, Urlacher played a somewhat scheme-independent position called the "Lobo-back", which is similar to a "star" or "robber" player. Essentially, Urlacher had some freedom to roam the middle of the field and was able to pick up players crossing the field horizontally.

Urlacher excelled in this Lobo position and earned several top collegiate awards, including making the First-Team All-American as a senior as well as being named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award, given to the nation's top collegiate defensive back of the season. In his final two seasons, Urlacher was voted a team captain twice and won the Team MVP award both years.

As a junior, Urlacher's 178 total tackles led not only his team and conference but the nation as a whole. Urlacher is arguably the best player to come through the Lobo's football program, highlighted by adding six offensive touchdowns during an elite senior defensive campaign.

Brian Urlacher drafted top-10 by Chicago Bears, Becomes DPOY

Following the end of Urlacher's illustrious collegiate career, the defensive specialist entered the 2000 NFL Draft, where he was selected by the Chicago Bears with the ninth overall pick. The Bears added Urlacher to a defense that finished the prior season in the bottom five of the NFL, so it was paramount to find a foundational piece of the defense at the top of the class, and the Lobo did not disappoint.

As early as his rookie season, Urlacher's dominance as a professional began to come into focus. In his first season, he managed to start in 14 of the team's games where he logged 124 tackles, eight sacks, and two interceptions en route to being named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year, making him just the third Bear to do so after Mark Carrier in 1990 and Wally Chambers in 1973. Urlacher was also named to his first Pro Bowl following his rookie season.

As a second-year player, Urlacher continued to climb the ladder of elite defensive NFL players, as the linebacker recorded 118 tackles, six sacks, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. Urlacher had one of the best and most iconic performances of his career this season, taking on the Atlanta Falcons and their dynamic quarterback Michael Vick.

Urlacher helped the Bears keep Vick under 20 rushing yards and even returned one of the quarterback's fumbles 90 yards for a touchdown. Urlacher was seemingly able to match the speed and athleticism of Vick, one of the most dangerous players in the NFL, and it became apparent that Urlacher was a true freak of nature considering his speed at his size.

Brian Urlacher continues his dominance for the Chicago Bears

The Bears finished the 2001 season with a 13-3 record but regressed to a four-win season in 2002, Urlacher's third season. Despite a lack of team success, Urlacher had another dominant season, and after leading the league in solo tackles, was named to his second consecutive First-Team All-Pro and third consecutive Pro Bowl. In 2003, Urlacher took a small step back (which is crazy when considering what he finished with) and ended the season with just 115 total tackles and another Pro Bowl nod.

Ahead of the 2004 season, the Chicago Bears made a coaching change and brought in Lovie Smith, who implemented his iconic Tampa-2 defense. Urlacher was able to team up with a second-year Lance Briggs and the two constructed one of the best linebacking tandems to date but unfortunately, Urlacher had to miss nearly half of the season due to injury.

Nonetheless, Smith and his defensive scheme suited Urlacher and Briggs' skillsets perfectly. The former Lobo was able to play a position similar to the "Lobo-back" as a Tampa-2 middle linebacker, where he was able to roam across the middle of the defense between the linebacker and the safeties.

In this scheme, Urlacher enjoyed some of the best success of his career. In his first season under Smith, the All-Pro had perhaps his best season so far, recording 122 total tackles and six sacks. Urlacher was nominated to the First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl roster once again, but was able to finish the season as the Defensive Player of the Year, making him the first Bears player to do so since Mike Singletary in 1988.

The following season, Urlacher had another stellar season with 142 total tackles and three interceptions and helped lead the Bears to a top-five defense on the year. After winning the division with a 13-3 record, Urlacher and the defense helped lead the team to a Super Bowl birth, where they, unfortunately, folded to another all-time great in quarterback Peyton Manning.

Brian Urlacher keeps building his Hall of Fame resume

Over the next two seasons, the Chicago Bears were not able to match their success as a unit, but Urlacher continued to play at an elite level, despite experiencing a drought in post-season nominations and awards. Even after finishing both seasons without Pro Bowl or All-Pro nods, Urlacher combined for 216 total tackles, five sacks, and seven interceptions in 2007 and 2008.

In 2009, Urlacher was only able to play in one game after dislocating his wrist in the team's opener and was forced to miss the rest of the season. Coming off the injury in 2010, Urlacher returned to form and made the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams after logging over 100 tackles and four sacks on the year. He finished the season ranked fourth in the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year category.

In 2011, Urlacher put together his final 16-game season where he logged 102 tackles and three interceptions en route to earning his final Pro Bowl selection. In 2012, the great linebacker played in only 12 of the team's games but was still playing at a very high level, highlighted by the team's dominant 51-20 win versus the Titans halfway through the year. In the game, Urlacher logged a fumble recovery, seven tackles, and recorded a 46-yard pick-six to cap off a dominant outing from the Bears.

Brian Urlacher's retirement and legacy with Chicago Bears

Following the 2012 season, Urlacher retired from the NFL after failing to reach an agreement with the Chicago Bears front office. Since his retirement, Urlacher has voiced his disgust with the offers that were being presented by the team and simply chose to retire rather than earn less than what he deserved or join a new team. At his retirement, Urlacher's 13 seasons brought eight Pro Bowls, five All-Pro nominations, and a Defensive Player of the Year trophy. In 182 games, Urlacher logged 180 starts where he recorded 1,361 total tackles, 41.5 sacks, 16 fumble recoveries, 22 interceptions, and four defensive touchdowns.

Amongst franchise history, Urlacher's 182 games are third behind only Olin Kreutz and Walter Payton. Statistically, Urlacher is one of the best players in team history, as he ranks first in total tackles (with his teammate Briggs finishing second), 11th in sacks (just 0.5 behind Adewale Ogunleye), and 11th in interceptions. For a middle linebacker, Urlacher was able to change the game in a number of different ways, as an elite tackler, as an impressive situational pass rusher, and as a stingy lurker over the middle of the field.

To contextualize Urlacher's career a little, it is truly amazing that he was so dominant in the NFL at the same time as another dominant, but different middle linebacker, Ray Lewis. These two are at the top of the list of best middle linebackers in NFL history, but they are very different in their play styles, with Lewis being more of a punishing, traditional player and Urlacher being a more versatile version of the middle linebacker.

Both players will be remembered in the annals of football history for the rest of time, but Urlacher's play style is perhaps more influential when looking at the positionless brand of football that defenses have been using over the past handful of years.

Urlacher was effectively a big strong safety-playing middle linebacker and did so at such a high level that several players have filled similar roles to great levels of success. During the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl runs of the 2010s, the team had a great middle linebacker in Bobby Wagner, but Uralcher's comparison would be closer to that of the team's strong safety, Kam Chancellor.

At 6'4" and 220 lbs, Chancellor followed in Uralcher's footsteps as a fast and physical player who can play in both the box and the secondary and is even capable of rushing the passer. Even a player like Isaiah Simmons, who was a vaunted prospect coming out of Clemson, has made a name for himself as a quasi-linebacker/safety.

After retiring from the game of football, Urlahcer's awards and nominations have been just as great as the impact he left on the game. Urlacher was inducted into both the Professional Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and 2017, respectively. Away from the game of football,

Urlacher has spent time as a sponsor and spokesperson for several brands and organizations, mainly as an advocate for the American military and the soldiers, and even participated in the USO holiday tour. Of all his post-football ventures, Urlacher's affiliation with RESTORE Hair is perhaps his most iconic, and fans in Chicago today can still see billboards of a previously bald Urlacher with a full head of hair.