79 Facts About Brian Urlacher

1.

Brian Urlacher is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 13 seasons in the National Football League, spending his entire career with the Chicago Bears.

2.

Brian Urlacher played college football for the New Mexico Lobos, where he became one of the school's most decorated athletes and was recognized as a consensus All-American in 1999.

3.

Brian Urlacher's playing style, accomplishments, and reputation made him one of the team's most popular players.

4.

Brian Urlacher was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

5.

Brian Urlacher spent his youth immersed in sports, and developed an interest in football, basketball, track and later table tennis; he graduated from Lovington High School in 1996.

6.

Brian Urlacher saw playing time as a running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and defensive back.

7.

Brian Urlacher finished the season with twelve touchdown receptions, six touchdown returns, and two rushing touchdowns.

8.

Brian Urlacher additionally received state-recognized honors in football, as well as basketball.

9.

Brian Urlacher wanted to attend Texas Tech University, but the school did not offer him an athletic scholarship.

10.

Brian Urlacher enrolled at the University of New Mexico, majored in criminology, and played for the Lobos.

11.

Brian Urlacher's departure prompted the school to hire Rocky Long, a former coach at UCLA.

12.

Brian Urlacher spent significant time training with the team's defensive coordinator, Bronco Mendenhall, who helped Urlacher refine his skills as a defensive back.

13.

However, Brian Urlacher became one of the team's most productive players during this time.

14.

Brian Urlacher finished his career with 442 tackles, three interceptions, 11 sacks, and 11 forced fumbles.

15.

Brian Urlacher received All-American honors from Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America, and the Associated Press.

16.

Brian Urlacher played his final collegiate game at the 2000 Senior Bowl, where he was one of the game's top players.

17.

Brian Urlacher led the nation with 178 tackles during his junior year, and set a school record for most tackles in a single season.

18.

Brian Urlacher finished with the third most career tackles in the University of New Mexico's history.

19.

Brian Urlacher was the first person to be inducted into the University of New Mexico's Football Wall of Fame.

20.

Brian Urlacher was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on December 5,2017.

21.

Brian Urlacher was considered one of the most talented collegiate prospects in the 2000 NFL Draft, and impressed spectators and analysts at the NFL Scouting Combine by bench pressing 225 pounds twenty-seven times, and completing the forty-yard dash in 4.57 seconds.

22.

Brian Urlacher 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.

23.

However, Brian Urlacher struggled to perform consistently in his first professional game, and lost his starting position to Rosevelt Colvin.

24.

Brian Urlacher 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 3 game on account of an injury.

25.

Brian Urlacher excelled at the middle linebacker position, and recorded 46 tackles, six sacks, and one interception in his next five starts.

26.

Brian Urlacher led the Bears with 124 tackles and eight sacks, both of which surpassed the franchise's previous rookie records.

27.

Brian Urlacher further distinguished himself as one of the Bears' most productive playmakers during the 2001 season.

28.

Brian Urlacher held Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was well known for his scrambling abilities, to 18 rushing yards, and recorded a forced fumble and sack.

29.

Brian Urlacher returned one of Vick's fumbles for a 90-yard touchdown.

30.

Two weeks later, Brian Urlacher helped set up a Bears comeback victory against the San Francisco 49ers by intercepting a pass, and later setting up a game-winning touchdown return for Mike Brown, after causing 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens to lose control of a pass.

31.

Brian Urlacher concluded the season with three interceptions, six sacks, and was a candidate for 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award.

32.

In 2005, Brian Urlacher won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year after playing for a defensive team that allowed the fewest points per game, and created the most turnovers in the National Football Conference.

33.

Brian Urlacher himself recorded at least 10 tackles in six consecutive games, while finishing the season with a team high 121 tackles.

34.

Brian Urlacher was credited as one of the team's leaders, whose audibles and experience helped develop several younger teammates.

35.

Brian Urlacher played his second career playoff game against the Carolina Panthers on January 15,2006.

36.

Brian Urlacher was selected to the 2006 Pro Bowl, but declined the position on account of an injury.

37.

Brian Urlacher helped the Bears overcome a 20-point deficit by recording 19 tackles and a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

38.

Brian Urlacher finished the season with 93 tackles and three forced fumbles.

39.

Brian Urlacher was elected to the 2006 All-Pro Team and 2007 Pro Bowl, while earning consideration for the League's Defensive Player of the Year award.

40.

Brian Urlacher dislocated his wrist in the 2009 season opener against the Packers.

41.

Brian Urlacher underwent surgery, and went on to miss the remainder of the season.

42.

Brian Urlacher had severely damaged a bone in his wrist that was adjacent to a major nerve.

43.

Brian Urlacher was forced to wear a cast on his wrist for 12 weeks and spend a month in therapy to recover from the injury.

44.

Brian Urlacher was voted to his seventh Pro Bowl for his stellar defensive efforts during the year.

45.

In 2011, in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings, Brian Urlacher sprained his MCL when teammate Major Wright and Vikings receiver Percy Harvin landed on him with 5:15 left in the game.

46.

Brian Urlacher was eventually named to the Pro Bowl, but did not play due to the injury against Minnesota.

47.

Brian Urlacher missed much of the team's summer practice OTA's while trying to recover from the injury.

48.

In 2012, Brian Urlacher was awarded the Ed Block Courage Award, given to those who showed a commitment to sportsmanship and courage.

49.

Brian Urlacher led the Bears in tackles until Week 13 against the Seahawks, in which he sustained a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

50.

Brian Urlacher became an unrestricted free agent on March 12,2013.

51.

Brian Urlacher later belittled Phil Emery's contract negotiations with him and stated the Bears had little intention to re-sign him.

52.

In 2015, Brian Urlacher told ESPN that he still respected the Bears organization and front office, but has yet to speak to Emery, who was fired in 2014.

53.

On May 22,2013, Brian Urlacher announced his retirement via his Twitter account.

54.

In 182 games in the NFL, Brian Urlacher started all but two, the third most in franchise history behind Walter Payton and Olin Kreutz, recording a team-record 1,779 tackles, 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, and 11 forced fumbles.

55.

On November 21,2017, Brian Urlacher was announced as one of 27 semi-finalists for the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

56.

On February 3,2018, Brian Urlacher was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

57.

In 2002, Brian Urlacher appeared on the game show Wheel of Fortune and won over $47,000 for charity.

58.

In May 2002 Brian Urlacher appeared on an episode of According to Jim as himself.

59.

Brian Urlacher has appeared in several commercials for McDonald's, Domino's Pizza, Comcast, Nike, Campbell's Chunky soup, Old Spice, and Glaceau.

60.

Brian Urlacher shared the spotlight with Peyton Manning in a MasterCard commercial at a spa.

61.

However, Brian Urlacher later stated that he feels "uncomfortable" appearing in commercials.

62.

Brian Urlacher was the cover athlete and spokesperson for Sega Sports' NFL 2K3.

63.

Brian Urlacher wrestled in a pay-per-view event for the NWA-TNA promotion.

64.

In 2012, with Nike taking over the NFL supplier from Reebok, Brian Urlacher modeled for the new uniforms.

65.

In July 2013, Brian Urlacher announced that he will be an analyst for Fox Sports 1 on Fox Football Daily with Jay Glazer and Curt Menefee; he had been courted by NFL Network but decided on Fox Sports.

66.

On September 16,2014, Brian Urlacher resigned from the role to spend more time with his family.

67.

In December 2014, Brian Urlacher participated in the USO Chairman's Holiday tour, which provided entertainment to US troops in five countries around the world.

68.

Sega Sports selected Brian Urlacher to appear on the cover of NFL 2K3, while other companies, such as Nike, McDonald's, Old Spice, and Vitamin Water, have featured him in several television advertisements and promotions.

69.

In 2014, Brian Urlacher underwent a hair transplant surgery performed by RESTORE Hair.

70.

Brian Urlacher became a spokesman for the Illinois-based clinic and appeared on billboards and television.

71.

Brian Urlacher later sued a Florida-based hair transplant clinic for using his image and likeness without his consent.

72.

In 2007, former teammate Tank Johnson called upon Brian Urlacher to testify during one of his court hearings.

73.

Brian Urlacher has two daughters, Pamela and Riley, with ex-wife Laurie Brian Urlacher and a son, Kennedy, with Tyna Robertson.

74.

In June 2005, Brian Urlacher filed suit to establish paternity of his son Kennedy.

75.

In 2017, Brian Urlacher appealed to a Cook County court to remove Kennedy from Robertson's custody after her husband, Ryan Karageorge, was shot and killed in their residence.

76.

Brian Urlacher married Jennipher Frost, a former contestant on America's Next Top Model on March 13,2016.

77.

Brian Urlacher enjoys golfing in his spare time, and during an episode of Home Turf, Urlacher revealed a room in his mansion containing a plethora of golf paraphernalia.

78.

When home, Brian Urlacher revealed that he enjoys watching the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and HBO's Entourage.

79.

Brian Urlacher enjoys listening to a wide variety of music, including hip hop, rock, and country music.