Brian Urlacher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Brian Urlacher

Urlacher in 2014
No. 54
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1978-05-25) May 25, 1978 (age 47) Pasco, Washington, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	258 lb (117 kg)
Career information
High school:	Lovington (Lovington, New Mexico)
College:	New Mexico (1996–1999)
NFL Draft:	2000 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9
Career history
Chicago Bears (2000–2012)
Career highlights and awards
NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2005) NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2000) 4× First-team All-Pro (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006) Second-team All-Pro (2010) 8× Pro Bowl (2000–2003, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011) NFL solo tackles leader (2002) NFL 2000s All-Decade Team PFWA All-Rookie Team (2000) 100 greatest Bears of All-Time Consensus All-American (1999) Mountain West Player of the Year (1999) First-team All-MW (1999) New Mexico Lobos Jersey No. 44 retired
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 1,361 Sacks: 41.5 Forced fumbles: 11 Pass deflections: 90 Interceptions: 22 Defensive touchdowns: 4
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame

Brian Urlacher (born May 25, 1978) is a former American football player. He was a linebacker for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. A linebacker is a defensive player who lines up behind the defensive line. They are often leaders on the field.

Urlacher played college football at the University of New Mexico. He was recognized as an All-American in his final year. The Bears picked him ninth overall in the 2000 NFL draft. He quickly became one of the NFL's top defensive players. He won the NFL Rookie of the Year Award. During his career, he was chosen for eight Pro Bowls. He was also named a first-team All-Pro four times. In 2005, he won NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Urlacher was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017. He joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

Early Life and High School Football

Brian Urlacher was born in Pasco, Washington. He grew up in Lovington, New Mexico. From a young age, Brian loved sports. He played football, basketball, and track. He graduated from Lovington High School in 1996.

In high school, Brian played many positions in football. He was a running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and defensive back. He helped lead the Lovington High School Wildcats to a perfect 14–0 season. They won a state championship. He scored many touchdowns as a receiver and on returns. Lovington High School honored Brian by retiring his jersey number. They even named a holiday after him. Brian wanted to play for Texas Tech University, but they did not offer him a scholarship.

College Football Career

Urlacher went to the University of New Mexico. He studied criminology. He played football for the Lobos. His coach, Dennis Franchione, changed his position to linebacker. Brian didn't play much at first. The team did well in his first two years. They even played in the 1997 Insight.com Bowl.

When a new coach, Rocky Long, arrived, Urlacher's career took off. He got more playing time. He played a special role called "Lobo-Back." This was a mix of a linebacker and a free safety. He also played as a return specialist and wide receiver. Brian became one of the team's best players. He finished his college career with 442 tackles. He also had 11 sacks and 11 forced fumbles. He even caught six touchdown passes and returned five kicks for touchdowns.

After the 1999 season, he was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. He also placed twelfth for the Heisman Trophy. He was named an All-American. He played in the 2000 Senior Bowl. Urlacher led the nation with 178 tackles in his junior year. This was a school record. The University of New Mexico has honored Brian many times. They retired his No. 44 jersey in 2013. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

Professional NFL Career

Urlacher in the Bears in 2008.

Joining the NFL

Brian Urlacher was one of the top players in the 2000 NFL draft. He impressed everyone at the NFL Scouting Combine. He lifted 225 pounds twenty-seven times. He also ran the forty-yard dash in 4.57 seconds. The Chicago Bears needed a strong defensive player. They chose Urlacher as the ninth overall pick in the first round.

Early Years with the Bears (2000–2004)

Urlacher signed a five-year contract with the Bears. The head coach, Dick Jauron, saw that Brian could play both middle and outside linebacker. He became the team's starting strongside linebacker. At first, he struggled in his first game. He lost his starting spot for a short time.

But Urlacher quickly got his starting spot back. He became a middle linebacker. He had 46 tackles, six sacks, and one interception in his next five games. He even won the Rookie Defensive Player of the Month award in October. He led the Bears with 124 tackles and eight sacks. Both of these were new rookie records for the team. Even though the Bears had a tough season, Urlacher won many awards. He was named the 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Fans also voted him to play in the 2001 Pro Bowl. This great start built his reputation in the NFL.

In the 2001 season, Urlacher continued to shine. He had an amazing game against the Atlanta Falcons. He stopped Falcons quarterback Michael Vick from running much. He also forced a fumble and scored a 90-yard touchdown. He helped the Bears win many games. He even caught a touchdown pass on a trick play! He finished the season with three interceptions and six sacks. He was considered for the 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Bears won 13 games that year, their best since 1986.

After 2001, the Bears had a few average seasons. In 2004, the team hired a new coach, Lovie Smith. Urlacher also dealt with some injuries that year.

Urlacher in 2011.

Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl Run (2005–2011)

In 2005, Urlacher had an incredible season. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. His team's defense allowed the fewest points per game. They also caused the most turnovers in their conference. Urlacher had at least 10 tackles in six games in a row. He finished the season with 121 tackles. He was also a strong leader for the team. He helped the Bears achieve an 11–5 record. This was their best finish since 2001. Urlacher played in his second playoff game in 2006.

The team continued to do well in the 2006 season. They finished with a 13–3 record. Urlacher had one of his best games against the Arizona Cardinals. He helped the Bears come back from a 20-point deficit. He made 19 tackles and forced a fumble that led to a touchdown. His teammate Devin Hester said Urlacher turned into "the Incredible Hulk" in that game. The Bears won the NFC Championship against the New Orleans Saints. But they lost Super Bowl XLI to the Indianapolis Colts. Urlacher was chosen for the 2006 All-Pro Team and the 2007 Pro Bowl.

In the 2007 season, the Bears did not do as well. Urlacher had a back issue, but he still played well. He finished the season with five interceptions and five sacks. He also had 123 tackles and a defensive touchdown. After the season, he had minor neck surgery. He also updated his contract with the Bears.

In 2009, Urlacher dislocated his wrist in the first game. He had surgery and missed the rest of the season. After recovering, Urlacher felt stronger. In 2010, the Bears signed Julius Peppers to boost their defense. With Peppers, Urlacher and the Bears improved to an 11–5 record. They won the NFC North and got a bye in the playoffs. Urlacher was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month. He was also voted to his seventh Pro Bowl.

In 2011, Urlacher sprained his MCL in the last game of the season. He was named to the Pro Bowl but could not play due to the injury. He had knee surgery in 2012. He worked hard to recover and played in the first game of the 2012 season.

Final Season and Retirement (2012)

Urlacher in 2009

In 2012, Urlacher received the Ed Block Courage Award. This award is for players who show sportsmanship and courage. He thanked the Bears for their support after his mother passed away. In Week 9, he intercepted a pass against the Tennessee Titans. He returned it 46 yards for a touchdown. Urlacher led the Bears in tackles for most of the season. However, a hamstring injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.

Urlacher became a free agent in March 2013. The Bears and Urlacher could not agree on a new contract. On May 22, 2013, Urlacher announced his retirement on Twitter. He played 182 games in the NFL. He started almost all of them. He set a team record with 1,779 tackles. He also had 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions, and 11 forced fumbles.

Hall of Fame Induction (2018)

On November 21, 2017, Urlacher was named a semi-finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This was his first time being considered. On February 3, 2018, Brian Urlacher was officially voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Other Activities

Urlacher at the Incirlik Air Base in 2014

In 2002, Brian Urlacher appeared on the game show Wheel of Fortune. He won over $47,000 for charity. He also appeared as himself in an episode of the TV show According to Jim.

Urlacher has been in many commercials. These include ads for McDonald's, Domino's Pizza, Comcast, Nike, and Campbell's Chunky soup. He was also on the cover of the video game NFL 2K3. In 2014, Urlacher visited US troops in five countries. This was part of the USO Chairman's Holiday tour.

In 2013, Urlacher became a football analyst for Fox Sports 1. He worked on the show Fox Football Daily. However, he resigned in 2014 to spend more time with his family.

NFL Career Statistics

Personal Life

Brian Urlacher has two daughters, Pamela and Riley. He also has a son, Kennedy. His son, Kennedy, also became a football player in high school. He now plays for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Brian lives with his daughters. His younger brother, Casey, also played football for a short time. Casey was later elected mayor of Mettawa, Illinois.

In April 2012, Urlacher dated actress Jenny McCarthy. They ended their relationship in August 2012. Urlacher married Jennipher Frost in March 2016.

In his free time, Urlacher enjoys golfing. He also likes watching the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and the TV show Entourage. He enjoys listening to different types of music, including hip hop, rock, and country music.

Images for kids

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  Urlacher in 2019.

See also

In Spanish: Brian Urlacher para niños