Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff: 30 Days with Mike Brown

Mike Brown becomes dominant safety, defensive leader with Chicago Bears

Almost immediately after landing in Chicago, Brown became a starter in the Bears' secondary. In his first four seasons under then-head coach Dick Jauron, Brown started in all but one of the team's 64 regular season games. During this span, Brown totaled 11 interceptions, 25 pass deflections, four fumble recoveries, 339 total tackles, and four defensive touchdowns. The best season on his rookie contract came during an impressive 2001 campaign where he was selected to the First-Team All-Pro after leading the league in pick-sixes and logging three sacks.

Brown, who signed a five-year extension the summer before his rookie deal ended, remained with the team in 2004, where the time replaced Jauron with coach Lovie Smith. Unfortunately, Brown was helped to just two games in his first season under Smith due to an Achilles tear, but he was able to log a 95-yard fumble recovery in his short time on the field, the longest across the league for that season.

This injury ultimately affected Brown's health for the remainder of his career, but in 2005, he was able to start in 13 total games, including the team's divisional-round contest. He finished the season as an All-Pro player once again and was named to his first career Pro Bowl after posting 72 total tackles, three interceptions, and six pass deflections.

The following year was the team's best season with Brown on the roster, with the Bears making it all the way to the Super Bowl, largely thanks to a dominant defense that included the likes of Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Danieal Manning, Charles Tillman, Alex Brown, Tommie Harris, and Adewale Ogunleye. Unfortunately, Mike Brown suffered an injury during the team's sixth game and missed the remainder of the season, including the Super Bowl run. Still, he finished the year with a fumble recovery touchdown and 24 total tackles.

Brown prepared to return to the starting lineup in 2007 but unfortunately, the safety sustained a season-ending knee injury in the first game of the season. Dealing with his fourth season-ending injury in as many years, Brown, and the entire Chicago Bears defense and roster, were extremely disheartened to learn the news that the secondary would be without their leader again. Nonetheless, Brown remained with the team and continued to prepare the younger defensive players by coaching them up and providing them with veteran insight.