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Brian Urlacher
Date of birth: May 25, 1978 (1978-05-25) (age 30)
Place of birth: Flag of the United States Pasco, Washington
Career information
Position(s): Middle linebacker
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight: 258 lb (117 kg)
Jersey №: 54
College: New Mexico
NFL Draft: 2000 / Round: 1/ Pick 9
Organizations
 As player:
2000 -Present Chicago Bears
Career highlights and Awards
Pro Bowls: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005,
2006
Awards: • 2000 Male Athlete of the Year (UNM)
• 2000 NFL Defensive ROY
• 2001 Football Digest Defensive POY
• 2005 AP NFL Defensive POY
• Defensive Player-of-the-Week (4)
• Special Teams Player of the Week
• NFL Rookie Defensive Player
of the Month (10/2000)
Retired #s: #11 (Lovington High School)
Records: • Most tackles in a season (UNM)
• Most tackles in a season (Bears)
Stats at NFL.com

Brian Keith Urlacher (born on May 25, 1978) is an American football player, who currently plays for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He attended the University of New Mexico, where he completed his four-year collegiate career as one of the school's most decorated athletes; earning consideration for the Jim Thorpe Award and Heisman Trophy during his senior year.[1] He started his professional career with Bears as the ninth overall selection in 2000 NFL Draft.[2]

Urlacher has since established himself as one of the league's most productive defensive player. Since winning the NFL Rookie of the Year Award in 2000, he has been elected to six Pro Bowls,[3] and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2005.[1] His playing style, accomplishments and reputation have made him one of the team's most popular players. Urlacher is also known for his commercial success.[4] Sega Sports selected Urlacher to appear on the cover of NFL 2K3, while other companies, such as Nike and Vitamin Water, have featured him in advertisements.[5][6]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Brian Urlacher was born to Brad and Lavoyda Urlacher in Pasco, Washington.[7] After his parents separated, Lavoyda raised Urlacher and his siblings in Lovington, New Mexico. He spent his youth immersed in sports, and developed a partiality towards football, basketball, and later table tennis.[7] While his mother worked several jobs to keep her family afloat, Urlacher spent his teenage years playing sports for the Lovington High School and training in weight rooms.[7] The training helped Urlacher gain the speed, height, and muscle mass he would need to solidify his football career.[7]

As he progressed though high school, Urlacher gained experience in all three phases of football. He saw play time as a running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and defensive back.[1] Urlacher led the Lovington High Wildcats to an undefeated 14-0 season, and a division 3-A state championship.[7] He finished the season with twelve touchdown receptions, six touchdown returns, and two rushing touchdowns.[1] He additionally merited state-recognized honors in football, as well as basketball.[8] Lovington has since recognized Urlacher’s accomplishments by retiring his high-school jersey number, and naming a holiday after him.[1]

[edit] Collegiate career

Urlacher wished to attend Texas Tech University, but the school did not offer him an athletic scholarship.[7] The University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University were the only two Division I schools that offered Urlacher scholarships.[7] He ultimately enrolled into the University of New Mexico, and chose to major in Criminology.[8] The New Mexico Lobos' head coach, Dennis Franchione, converted Urlacher to linebacker, but often left him on the sidelines in favor of more experienced players.[7] The team finished with winning records during Urlacher's first two years, and even made a trip to the 1997 Insight.com Bowl.[7] The Franchione's success prompted him to leave New Mexico in favor of Texas Christian University. His departure prompted the school to hire Rocky Long, the University of California, Los Angeles' former head coach, to relieve his position.

Despite the change, Urlacher flourished under Long's tenure.[7] Urlacher not only received more play time, but also played a more versatile role on both offense and defense. Long converted Urlacher into a "Lobo-Back",[9] a cross-between a linebacker and free safety, and placed him in a 3-3-5 defense scheme.[10] He spent significant time training with the team's defensive coordinator, Bronco Mendenhall, who helped Urlacher refine his skills as a defensive back.[7] Long also used Urlacher as a return specialist and wide receiver throughout his final two years with the Lobos.[8] Despite Long's extensive changes to the team's roster, formations, and work ethic, the Lobos' performance declined. However, Urlacher became the one of the team's most productive players during this time. He finished his career with 442 tackles, three interceptions, eleven sacks and force fumbles.[1] Outside of defense, he caught six touchdown passes, and returned five kicks for touchdowns.[1]

Urlacher is regraded as the University of New Mexico's most decorated alumni. After the 1999 season, he was one of the finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, and even finished twelfth on Heisman Trophy ballot.[11] Urlacher received All-American honors from Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America, and Associated Press.[8] He played his final collegiate game at the 2000 Senior Bowl, where he was one of the game's top players.[12] Urlacher led the nation with 178 tackles during his junior year, and also set a school record for most tackles in a single season.[1] He finished with the third most career tackles in the University of New Mexico's history.[1] The school has honored Urlacher on several occasions. They awarded him with the Male Athlete of the Year Award in 2000,[13] and even held a special half-time ceremony to honor his success in 2006.[14] Urlacher was also the first person to be inducted into the University of New Mexico's Football Wall of Fame.[15]

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Beginning

Urlacher was considered to be one of the most talented collegiate prospects headed into the 2000 NFL Draft.[16] He impressed spectators and analysts at the NFL Combine by bench pressing 255 pounds twenty-seven times, and completing the forty-yard Dash in 4.57 seconds.[7][17] The Chicago Bears, who were in need of a defensive play-maker, selected Urlacher in the first round, as the draft's ninth overall pick.[18] He signed a five-year contract, which was worth nearly eight million dollars with a five and a half million dollar signing bonus, within two months of the draft.[19] Dick Jauron, who was then the Bears' head coach, recognized Urlacher's versatility as a middle and outside linebacker, and appointed him as the team's starting strongside linebacker.[7][20] However, Urlacher struggled to perform consistently in his first professional game, and lost his starting position to Rosevelt Colvin.[21] Jauron left Urlacher on the sidelines during the following week, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shutout the Bears with a score of 41-0.[22]

He managed to regain a starting spot on the Bears' roster, after Barry Minter, the team's veteran middle linebacker, was forced to miss the week three game on account of an injury.[23] Urlacher excelled at the middle linebacker position, and recorded forty-six tackles, six sacks, and one interception in his next five starts.[22] Not even a rib cage injury hindered his performance during this period, as Urlacher went on to win the League's Rookie Defensive Player of the Month in October.[23] He led the Bears with 124 tackles and eight sacks, which surpassed the franchise's previous rookie records.[24] Although the Bears finished with a 5-11 record, Urlacher received a myriad accolades for his performance during the season. Many news organizations, such as the Associated Press and The Sporting News named him as the 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year.[8][25] Football fanatics across the nation also voted Urlacher to play at the 2001 Pro Bowl as an alternate middle linebacker.[7] Urlacher's successful rookie campaign served as the foundation for his professional career and reputation.[26]

Urlacher further distinguished himself as the one of the Bears' most productive play makers during the 2001 season. He had one of the best games of his career on October 7, against the Atlanta Falcons. Urlacher held Falcon's quarterback Michael Vick, who was well-known for his scrambling abilities, to eighteen rushing yards,[27] and recorded a forced fumble and sack.[22] The He also returned one of Vick's fumbles for a ninety-yard touchdown.[22]

smack talk.[28]





  • TO
  • Fake FG
  • 2001 Bears History


Urlacher would also see additional success during the 2001 season.

  • Bears History,com
  • Stuggle
  • Injuries
  • What if?

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i The Official Website of the Chicago Bears, Roster - 54 Brian Urlacher, chicagobears.com, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  2. ^ Associated Press, Bears hope Urlacher can be another Butkus (April 15, 2000), cnnsi.com, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  3. ^ Mayer, Larry, Bears well-represented in Pro Bowl voting (December 1, 2006), chicagobears.com, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  4. ^ Mariotti, Jay, 'Overrated' Urlacher could be NFL MVP (October 30, 2006), Chicago Sun-Times, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  5. ^ Williams, Preston, Look! My Uniform's on TV! (September 28, 2006), The Washington Post, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  6. ^ Mattise, Nathan, Fans put their knowledge of all things Urlacher to the test (June 27, 2007), The Albuquerque Tribune, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n JockBio.com, Brian Urlacher Biography, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  8. ^ a b c d e NFLPlayers.com, Brian Urlacher #54, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  9. ^ Harvey, Kitson, And now for some football.... (February 2, 2007), Duke City Fix, Retrieved on July 20, 2007.
  10. ^ The Official Site of the University of New Mexico Athletics, Player Bio: Rocky Long :: Football, cstv.com, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  11. ^ Gonzales, Carolyn, The Big Hitter (Fall 2004), Mirage Magazine, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  12. ^ The Official Website of the Senior Bowl, The Senior Bowl -- A Look Back At 57 Years Of Football Excellence, seniorbowl.com, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  13. ^ The Official site of the University of New Mexico Athletics, Traditions - Hall of Honor, cstv.com, July 19, 2007.
  14. ^ Limón, Iliana, UNM football: Lobos rally from 21-point deficit to beat Utes (October 20, 2006), The Albuquerque Tribune, Retrieved on July 19, 2007.
  15. ^ Mayer, Larry, Lightning strikes twice for Urlacher (October 20, 2006), chicagobears.com, Retrieved on July 19, 2007.
  16. ^ Buchsbaum, Joel, Linebackers: Arrington's athleticism, instincts make him the top LB prospect (December 27, 1999), profootballweekly.com, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  17. ^ Wuebben, Joe, Breeding Ground (September 2006), Muscle & Fitness Magazine, Retrieved on July 18, 2007.
  18. ^ Sports Illustrated, CNNSI.com's 2000 NFL Mock Draft (April 12, 2000), cnnsi.com, Retrieved on July 19, 2007.
  19. ^ Potash, Mask, Urlacher, Bears OK contract (June 17, 2000), Chicago Sun-Times, Retrieved on July 19, 2007.
  20. ^ Kiper, Mel, Prospects rise quickly at Senior Bowl (March 8, 2002), espn.com, Retrieved on July 19, 2007.
  21. ^ Chicago Tribune, 20 Questions With... Brian Urlacher (2006), chicagosports.com, Retrieved on July 19, 2007.
  22. ^ a b c d Yahoo! Sports, Brian Urlacher - Chicago Bears - Game Log, Retrieved on July 20, 2007.
  23. ^ a b Mayer, Larry, He's The Randy Moss Of Defense (March 2001), Football Digest, Retrieved on July 20, 2007.
  24. ^ RetroJersey.net, About Brian Urlacher, Game Time Promotions, Retrieved on July 20, 2007.
  25. ^ Darling, Dave, TSN's 2000 NFL Awards {January 29, 2001), The Sporting News, Retrieved on July 20, 2007.
  26. ^ Judge, Clark, Riddle of the middle: When would Bears have shifted Urlacher? (January 30, 2007), CBS SportsLine.com, Retrieved on July 20, 2007.
  27. ^ Yahoo! Sports, Michael Vick - Atlanta Falcons - Game Log, Retrieved on August 5, 2007.
  28. ^ Biggs, Brad. Vikings could run into problem without Williams (December 1, 2006), Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on September 12, 2007.