If USC safety Kennedy Urlacher's last name sounds familiar, it's because it is. He's the son of Chicago Bears legend Brian Urlacher. If the Bears are smart, they will keep Urlacher on their draft board for next April.
It might seem ridiculous to bring up draft boards in September. While there is some truth to this, there is no doubt that drafting Urlacher would be a power move for the Bears.
For starters, he would immediately enter the Windy City as a fan favorite. Given his last name, the city of Chicago would welcome him as one of its own. Could you imagine a December matchup against Green Bay where Urlacher jumps a route and intercepts the ball to turn the tide? Fans would go insane. It's safe to say there would be a lot of Urlacher jerseys in the stands if they were to draft him.
Bears might have to consider Kennedy Urlacher as future draft pick
Urlacher could also form a young, dynamic duo at safety with Dillon Thieneman, whom the Bears drafted out of Oregon with their first-round pick this draft. Besides Thieneman, the Bears are pretty thin at safety, especially now since the departure of C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Coby Bryant's devastating knee injury.
It's entirely possible the Bears' biggest need in next year's draft is safety again. Taking a chance on Urlacher is a no-brainer for the Bears. Even if he doesn't start right away, it would be great to have a depth piece the team can develop under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's scheme and then eventually earn playing time.
Urlacher is already making an impact for the USC Trojans defense, logging six tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in just two games. He even forced a safety in their last outing against Fresno State, a 39-0 shutout. It's safe to say the apple didn't fall far from the tree when it comes to making big plays when your team needs it most.
If the Bears draft Urlacher, it would continue the growing trend of teams drafting a former player's son. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted cornerback Joey Porter Jr. out of Penn State in 2023 after his father, Joey Porter Sr., won a Super Bowl with them. Similarly, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. out of Clemson in 2024 after his father, Jeremiah Trotter Sr., became a four-time Pro Bowler with the Eagles.
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For now, though, Urlacher is going to continue making a name for himself with USC. He will continue climbing draft boards as the Trojans prepare for their next matchup against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns..
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