PRO CAREER: Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year has been selected to six career Pro Bowls while registering 1,141 career tackles, the most ever for a Bears player in his first 7 seasons… Led the Bears in tackles (185, the second-highest total of his career) in 2006 for the 6th time in his NFL career… Finished 4th in the 2006 Associated Press Defensive Player-of-the-Year voting a year after he won the award to become the second Bears player to receive the honor (Mike Singletary, 1985, 1988) in franchise history and just the fifth player in NFL history to be named Defensive Rookie-of-the-Year and Defensive Player-of-the-Year in their career… Has recorded over 100 tackles in each campaign in his career, including a career-high 214 in 2002, the most ever by a Bear since tackle totals began being recorded in 1971… Has contributed to Chicago allowing the fewest points in the NFL in 2 of his 7 seasons, including 2005 when the Bears 202 points allowed was the fewest since a franchise-record 187 in 1986… First Chicago defender to lead the team in tackles in his initial 4 NFL seasons and was the first Bear to pace the team in tackles for 4 straight seasons since Singletary did so 5 straight years (1988-92)… Fifth player in franchise history to receive Pro Bowl selections in each of his first 4 NFL seasons (Rick Casares, Mike Ditka, Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers)… Ranks 2nd behind Mike Brown on Bears all-time list for career fumble return yards with 158 on 6 career recoveries, including a 90-yard TD in 2001… Stands 7th on team's career sacks list (first kept as a stat in 1982) with 32.5 career sacks - 2nd all-time among Bears LBs (Otis Wilson, 36.5)… Career awards include: AP and Pro Football Weekly NFL Defensive Player-of-the-Year (2005), Football Digest NFL Defensive Player-of-the-Year (2001), AP NFL Defensive Rookie-of-the-Year (2000), 4-time NFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week (10/7/01, 9/15/02, 9/19/04, 10/31/04), NFC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week (12/23/01) and NFC Defensive Rookie-of-the-Month (Oct. 2000)… Registered first 2 career TDs and was involved in a career-high 6 turnovers in 2001 while serving as the focal point of a defense that allowed an NFL-low 203 points… Third Bear ever named NFL Defensive Rookie-of-the-Year behind Mark Carrier (1990) and Wally Chambers (1973) and Chicago's first rookie Pro Bowler since Mark Carrier… Second Bears rookie ever to lead team in tackles (Doug Plank, 1975) while being recognized by his teammates as the rookie recipient of the Brian Piccolo Award.
HOW ACQUIRED: Entered NFL as first-round selection (ninth overall) by Chicago in the 2000 NFL Draft.
PERSONAL NOTES: Had jersey number 11 retired during "Brian Urlacher Day" ceremonies at Lovington (NM) H.S. in February, 2001… All-state selection at WR and FS led club to 14-0 record and state title as senior while catching 61 passes for 15 TDs, returning 4 punts and 2 kickoffs for TDs and rushing for 2 more TDs… Also all-district in basketball… Active supporter of the Special Olympics in the Chicagoland area and in his home state of New Mexico… Has 2 daughters, Pamela and Riley, and 1 son, Kennedy… Younger brother, Casey, played football at Lake Forest College and spent time on Bears roster before the 2003 season; veteran of 2 seasons in Arena Football League2… Donated football and weightlifting equipment to Lovington H.S. in 2002… Supplied shoes for each boys and girls sports programs at LHS in 2006. |