PRO CAREER: Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year has been selected to six career Pro Bowls while registering 1,299 career tackles, the most ever for a Bears player in his first 8 seasons… Stands 6th on team's career sacks list (first kept as a stat in 1982) with 37.5, which is also the most all-time amongst Bears LBs… In 2007, became just the 3rd Bears player in franchise history to record 5 INTs and 5 sacks in the same season… Tallied a career-high 7 takeaways (5 INTs, 2 FR) during the 2007 season, adding 5 sacks… He leads all NFL linebackers with 8 INTs since 2006 and is tied for fifth amongst LBs with 15 INTs since entering the league in 2000… Returned one of his 5 INTs of the 2007 season 85 yards for a touchdown vs. GB (12/23/07) to become the first player in franchise history to have a 90-plus yard fumble return for a TD (90-yard at ATL 10/7/01) and an 80-plus yard INT return for a score… 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 8 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 8 career recoveries, including a 90-yard TD in 2001… 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 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.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Entered NFL as first-round selection (ninth overall) by Chicago in the 2000 NFL Draft… Signed contract with Bears (6/16/00)… Signed 9-year contract with Chicago (6/6/03). SIGNED through 2011
2007 SEASON: Topped 100 tackles for the eighth consecutive season, while leading the Bears with 158 stops… Also lead the club in interceptions (5) and was tied for the lead in PBUs (5)… Recorded 5.0 sacks and added his 7th multi-sack game of his career, with 2.0 sacks vs. DAL (9/23)… Became just the third Bear since 1982, when sacks became an official statistic, to have at least 5 sacks and 5 INTs in a single season… Scored third touchdown of his career after intercepting a Brett Favre pass and returning it 85 yards vs. GB (12/23/07)… Finished the season with an interception in each of the final three games… Led the Bears in tackles or was tied for the lead 6 times, including a season-high 16 vs. NYG (12/2)… Started all 16 contests at MLB for the third consecutive season and sixth time in his career. GAMES PLAYED-STARTED: 16-16
PREVIOUS SEASONS: 2006 - Earned 6th career Pro Bowl selection after leading the Bears in tackles for the 6th time in career and 2nd consecutive year with 185, the 2nd-highest total of his career… Named first-team All-Pro by several publications and was named to the Pro Football Weekly/PFWA's All-NFL and All-NFC teams… Also paced Chicago with 12 TFLs while finishing tied for 2nd in QB Hits (7), 3rd in PBUs (8) and tied for 3rd by tying a career high in INTs (3); Added 1 forced fumble which was returned by Charles Tillman 40 yards for a TD at ARZ (10/16) and 1 fumble recovery vs. SF (10/29) which led to a TD… His 185 tackles according to coach-reviewed film for all NFL teams paced the entire League… Started all 16 contests for 5th time in his career while also starting all 3 postseason games… Led or tied for team lead in tackles during 8 regular season contests… Recorded a career-high 25 tackles at ARZ (10/16)… Paced Bears during the postseason with 6 PBUs including career single-game-high 4 in NFC Championship Game vs. NO (1/21/07)… Totaled 23 postseason tackles (2nd on team) with 1 TFL and 1 QB Hit.
2005 - Named NFL Defensive Player-of-the-Year and first-team All-Pro after starting all 16 regular season games and 1 postseason contest at MLB on a Bears defense that allowed the fewest points and second-fewest total yards in the NFL… Received 34-of-50 votes in AP voting… Leading defensive vote-getter for the Pro Bowl, his fifth career selection and fourth as a starter, after tallying 171 tackles to lead Chicago for the fifth time in 6 years… Led Bears with 10 TFLs, ranked 2nd with 6 sacks… Paced team in tackles in 6 games.
2004 - Topped 100-tackle plateau for 5th straight season, recording 105 tackles, and named a first-alternate for the Pro Bowl despite missing the first 7 games of his career due to 3 separate injuries… Earned 2 NFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week awards after stellar performances in Game 2 and Game 7… Led all MLBs in NFL with 5.5 sacks while ranking 2nd on Bears… Started at MLB in Games 1-2, 5-9 and 12-13… Inactive Games 3-4 with hamstring injury, Games 10-11 due to leg injury, Game 14 with a hamstring injury before finishing the season on injured reserve… Paced team in tackles in 5 games… Earned NFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors for a team-high 14 tackles at GB (9/19) plus a forced fumble of Ahman Green at the Bears 2-yard line that Mike Brown recovered and returned 95 yards for a TD… Inactive due to a hamstring injury at MIN (9/26), the first missed game of his career while snapping a string of 64 straight starts… Received NFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week award vs. SF (10/31) after recording his third career 2-sack game while tying for the team-lead with 9 tackles… Returned from leg injury vs. MIN (12/5) and led team with 11 tackles including 2 TFLs and 1 sack; added first INT of season… Left game at JAX (12/12) late in 4th quarter with hamstring injury… Placed on Injured Reserve (12/22/04).
2003 - Started third straight Pro Bowl at MLB and played in fourth consecutive as Chicago's leader with 153 total tackles, 112 solos and 11 TFLs while holding or tying for the team-lead in tackles in 9 games.
2002 - Led all NFC defensive players in Pro Bowl voting to earn starting MLB assignment after registering career-high and Bear-record 214 total tackles (after coach's review) and 19 TFLs… Ranked 2nd in NFL with 152 tackles according to play-by-play stats, 4 behind Miami's Zach Thomas… Started all 16 games while ranking among team leaders with 4.5 sacks (3rd) and 1 INT (3rd)… Recorded double-digit tackles in every game, leading team in tackles 14 times… Earned NFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors at ATL (9/15) by recovering a fumble and leading team with 13 tackles, including 2 sacks and 2 TFL.
2001 - Finished 5th in NFL MVP voting, the highest of any defensive player, after leading Bears with 148 tackles and ranking among team leaders with 6 sacks (3rd) and 3 INTs (T-2nd)… Honored as NFL Defensive Player-of-the-Year by Football Digest and unanimous first-team All-Pro… Selected for first Pro Bowl start in his second trip to the game as NFC's top vote-getter for MLBs after starting all 16 games for the first time in this career… Named NFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week after registering 8 tackles, first career TD on 90-yard fumble recovery return, 1 INT, 1 sack, TFL and forced fumble at ATL (10/7)… Posted 4 tackles and 1 INT vs. SF (10/28) while pressuring Terrell Owens into overtime-pass drop intercepted by Mike Brown and returned for game-winning TD… Named NFC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week after catching go-ahead 27-yard TD pass from Brad Maynard on fake FG in 4th quarter at WASH (12/23).
2000 - Named NFL Defensive Rookie-of-the-Year and a unanimous all-rookie team honoree after registering team highs with 165 total tackles, 8 sacks, 103 solos and 7 TFLs while starting the final 14 games… Voted a first-alternate to the Pro Bowl and selected to team following an injury to Detroit's Stephen Boyd… Bears recipient of the NFLPA's Unsung Hero Award… Opened season as reserve OLB before moving to starting MLB spot… Tied for 2nd on team with 2 INTs while leading team in tackles in 10 of final 13 contests… Recorded 2 tackles as reserve OLB in NFL debut at MIN (9/3)… Switched to MLB for first career start vs. NYG (9/17) and posted 13 tackles, including 2 TFLs and his first career sack to begin a 5-game sack streak, the third-longest rookie streak in NFL history and tied for the longest rookie streak in Bears history… Team-high 15 tackles with 1 sack vs. NO (10/8) highlighted NFC Defensive Rookie-of-the-Month award earned for 43 tackles, 4 sacks and 1 fumble recovery in 4 October games… Registered first career multi-sack game with 2 sacks among team-high 11 tackles vs. MIN (10/15) to cap 5-game sack streak… Topped 100-tackle plateau in season's 10th game with season-high 16 tackles at BUF (11/12), faster than all but 2 Bears since 1993… Recorded 2 tackles for NFC squad in Pro Bowl debut.
COLLEGE: Versatile player for New Mexico (1996-99) where he played OLB and FS on defense, WR on offense and returned kickoffs and punts… Two-year starter who finished career 3rd on school's all-time charts with 442 tackles… Added 3 INTs, 11 sacks and 11 forced fumbles… Averaged 18.8 yards on 5 kickoff returns and 15.1 yards on 13 punt returns…. Of his 7 catches, 6 went for TDs… As a senior, earned first-team All-America selection by Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America and Associated Press; second-team choice by The Sporting News and Football News… All-Mountain Conference first-team and Player-of-the-Year choice… Among 3 finalists for Jim Thorpe Award, given to top DB in college football… First-team All-Mountain West selection as a junior when he started every game at FS and led nation with a school-record 178 tackles… Majored in criminology.
PERSONAL: 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…Hosts an annual charity basketball game at Lovington High benefiting the high school.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Entered NFL as first-round selection (ninth overall) by Chicago in the 2000 NFL Draft… Signed contract with Bears (6/16/00)… Signed 9-year contract with Chicago (6/6/03). SIGNED through 2011
2007 SEASON: Topped 100 tackles for the eighth consecutive season, while leading the Bears with 158 stops… Also lead the club in interceptions (5) and was tied for the lead in PBUs (5)… Recorded 5.0 sacks and added his 7th multi-sack game of his career, with 2.0 sacks vs. DAL (9/23)… Became just the third Bear since 1982, when sacks became an official statistic, to have at least 5 sacks and 5 INTs in a single season… Scored third touchdown of his career after intercepting a Brett Favre pass and returning it 85 yards vs. GB (12/23/07)… Finished the season with an interception in each of the final three games… Led the Bears in tackles or was tied for the lead 6 times, including a season-high 16 vs. NYG (12/2)… Started all 16 contests at MLB for the third consecutive season and sixth time in his career. GAMES PLAYED-STARTED: 16-16
PREVIOUS SEASONS: 2006 - Earned 6th career Pro Bowl selection after leading the Bears in tackles for the 6th time in career and 2nd consecutive year with 185, the 2nd-highest total of his career… Named first-team All-Pro by several publications and was named to the Pro Football Weekly/PFWA's All-NFL and All-NFC teams… Also paced Chicago with 12 TFLs while finishing tied for 2nd in QB Hits (7), 3rd in PBUs (8) and tied for 3rd by tying a career high in INTs (3); Added 1 forced fumble which was returned by Charles Tillman 40 yards for a TD at ARZ (10/16) and 1 fumble recovery vs. SF (10/29) which led to a TD… His 185 tackles according to coach-reviewed film for all NFL teams paced the entire League… Started all 16 contests for 5th time in his career while also starting all 3 postseason games… Led or tied for team lead in tackles during 8 regular season contests… Recorded a career-high 25 tackles at ARZ (10/16)… Paced Bears during the postseason with 6 PBUs including career single-game-high 4 in NFC Championship Game vs. NO (1/21/07)… Totaled 23 postseason tackles (2nd on team) with 1 TFL and 1 QB Hit.
2005 - Named NFL Defensive Player-of-the-Year and first-team All-Pro after starting all 16 regular season games and 1 postseason contest at MLB on a Bears defense that allowed the fewest points and second-fewest total yards in the NFL… Received 34-of-50 votes in AP voting… Leading defensive vote-getter for the Pro Bowl, his fifth career selection and fourth as a starter, after tallying 171 tackles to lead Chicago for the fifth time in 6 years… Led Bears with 10 TFLs, ranked 2nd with 6 sacks… Paced team in tackles in 6 games.
2004 - Topped 100-tackle plateau for 5th straight season, recording 105 tackles, and named a first-alternate for the Pro Bowl despite missing the first 7 games of his career due to 3 separate injuries… Earned 2 NFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week awards after stellar performances in Game 2 and Game 7… Led all MLBs in NFL with 5.5 sacks while ranking 2nd on Bears… Started at MLB in Games 1-2, 5-9 and 12-13… Inactive Games 3-4 with hamstring injury, Games 10-11 due to leg injury, Game 14 with a hamstring injury before finishing the season on injured reserve… Paced team in tackles in 5 games… Earned NFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors for a team-high 14 tackles at GB (9/19) plus a forced fumble of Ahman Green at the Bears 2-yard line that Mike Brown recovered and returned 95 yards for a TD… Inactive due to a hamstring injury at MIN (9/26), the first missed game of his career while snapping a string of 64 straight starts… Received NFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week award vs. SF (10/31) after recording his third career 2-sack game while tying for the team-lead with 9 tackles… Returned from leg injury vs. MIN (12/5) and led team with 11 tackles including 2 TFLs and 1 sack; added first INT of season… Left game at JAX (12/12) late in 4th quarter with hamstring injury… Placed on Injured Reserve (12/22/04).
2003 - Started third straight Pro Bowl at MLB and played in fourth consecutive as Chicago's leader with 153 total tackles, 112 solos and 11 TFLs while holding or tying for the team-lead in tackles in 9 games.
2002 - Led all NFC defensive players in Pro Bowl voting to earn starting MLB assignment after registering career-high and Bear-record 214 total tackles (after coach's review) and 19 TFLs… Ranked 2nd in NFL with 152 tackles according to play-by-play stats, 4 behind Miami's Zach Thomas… Started all 16 games while ranking among team leaders with 4.5 sacks (3rd) and 1 INT (3rd)… Recorded double-digit tackles in every game, leading team in tackles 14 times… Earned NFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors at ATL (9/15) by recovering a fumble and leading team with 13 tackles, including 2 sacks and 2 TFL.
2001 - Finished 5th in NFL MVP voting, the highest of any defensive player, after leading Bears with 148 tackles and ranking among team leaders with 6 sacks (3rd) and 3 INTs (T-2nd)… Honored as NFL Defensive Player-of-the-Year by Football Digest and unanimous first-team All-Pro… Selected for first Pro Bowl start in his second trip to the game as NFC's top vote-getter for MLBs after starting all 16 games for the first time in this career… Named NFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week after registering 8 tackles, first career TD on 90-yard fumble recovery return, 1 INT, 1 sack, TFL and forced fumble at ATL (10/7)… Posted 4 tackles and 1 INT vs. SF (10/28) while pressuring Terrell Owens into overtime-pass drop intercepted by Mike Brown and returned for game-winning TD… Named NFC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week after catching go-ahead 27-yard TD pass from Brad Maynard on fake FG in 4th quarter at WASH (12/23).
2000 - Named NFL Defensive Rookie-of-the-Year and a unanimous all-rookie team honoree after registering team highs with 165 total tackles, 8 sacks, 103 solos and 7 TFLs while starting the final 14 games… Voted a first-alternate to the Pro Bowl and selected to team following an injury to Detroit's Stephen Boyd… Bears recipient of the NFLPA's Unsung Hero Award… Opened season as reserve OLB before moving to starting MLB spot… Tied for 2nd on team with 2 INTs while leading team in tackles in 10 of final 13 contests… Recorded 2 tackles as reserve OLB in NFL debut at MIN (9/3)… Switched to MLB for first career start vs. NYG (9/17) and posted 13 tackles, including 2 TFLs and his first career sack to begin a 5-game sack streak, the third-longest rookie streak in NFL history and tied for the longest rookie streak in Bears history… Team-high 15 tackles with 1 sack vs. NO (10/8) highlighted NFC Defensive Rookie-of-the-Month award earned for 43 tackles, 4 sacks and 1 fumble recovery in 4 October games… Registered first career multi-sack game with 2 sacks among team-high 11 tackles vs. MIN (10/15) to cap 5-game sack streak… Topped 100-tackle plateau in season's 10th game with season-high 16 tackles at BUF (11/12), faster than all but 2 Bears since 1993… Recorded 2 tackles for NFC squad in Pro Bowl debut.
COLLEGE: Versatile player for New Mexico (1996-99) where he played OLB and FS on defense, WR on offense and returned kickoffs and punts… Two-year starter who finished career 3rd on school's all-time charts with 442 tackles… Added 3 INTs, 11 sacks and 11 forced fumbles… Averaged 18.8 yards on 5 kickoff returns and 15.1 yards on 13 punt returns…. Of his 7 catches, 6 went for TDs… As a senior, earned first-team All-America selection by Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America and Associated Press; second-team choice by The Sporting News and Football News… All-Mountain Conference first-team and Player-of-the-Year choice… Among 3 finalists for Jim Thorpe Award, given to top DB in college football… First-team All-Mountain West selection as a junior when he started every game at FS and led nation with a school-record 178 tackles… Majored in criminology.
PERSONAL: 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…Hosts an annual charity basketball game at Lovington High benefiting the high school.
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