Brian Urlacher turned 40-years old yesterday and has a date set with the Hall of Fame in just a couple months. It seems like to perfect time to reflect on what was one of the greatest careers a middle linebacker has ever had. People love to talk about the individual moments or the great seasons he had, but what about the great games?
Including the playoffs, Urlacher played 189 games in his career. Given the physical demands of being an NFL linebacker, that’s an insane number. So it can be difficult to pinpoint which stand out as his best performances.
So here is a quick top five list of ones that stood out the most. All factors were considered from the importance of the games to the production and impact Urlacher had on the field.
#5: vs. Minnesota Vikings (2005)
Urlacher was at his zenith in 2005. He won Defensive Player of the Year as the heart of what was the #1 defense that season. Amazingly there weren’t a ton of stat-tastic games that year, but one most definitely stood out from a package of excellence. That was his performance against Minnesota in Week 6. Not only was it productive, it also showcased his ability to put the team on his back.
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By that point, the Bears were in trouble. They’d lost three of their first four games of the season. It looked like they were destined for another down year. Urlacher wasn’t having any of that. Leading a smothering defensive effort, he collected nine tackles and also sacked Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper twice.
Chicago won 28-3, the first of what would be eight-straight victories that propelled the Bears into the playoffs.
#4: @ Tennessee Titans (2012)
People look upon the 2012 season as a disappointment for Urlacher. It was the biggest sign that something had left him after the catastrophic knee injury he’d suffered the year before. His explosiveness and speed weren’t quite there anymore. So much just dismiss the season as having no games worthy of his greatness.
This is, of course, false. These same people always forget that the physical ability wasn’t the only thing that made Urlacher a star. His keen intelligence and awareness were also elite and this game showcased that to perfection. In one of the biggest beatdowns of that era, the Bears hammered the Titans 51-20 behind a turnover-frenzied defensive gem.
Urlacher was in on the action in every way. He made seven tackles, forced a fumble and scored an unforgettable pick-six touchdown.
#3: vs. Green Bay Packers (2007)
It’s the opinion of this writer that Urlacher was screwed out of a ninth Pro Bowl in 2007. If one were to look at the stats, it’s insane he didn’t get the nod. Why was this the case? Most likely it’s because the Bears failed to make the playoffs but then again the San Francisco 49ers didn’t and their inside linebacker Patrick Willis got in. So what’s up with that?
Be that as it may, the 2007 campaign had an array of great performances by Urlacher. The best and easily biggest favorite had to be the windy and frigid December rematch with the Green Bay Packers. The Packers were already in the playoffs so they didn’t exactly enter the game with the greatest enthusiasm. The Bears made them pay for it.
Urlacher had just five tackles but he deflected three passes and intercepted Brett Favre for an 85-yard pick-six that put the game away 35-7.
#2: @ Atlanta Falcons (2001)
This was the game where Urlacher seemed to transform from promising youngster into a dominant force. Chicago went into Atlanta against a Falcons team that was 2-1 and put up 58 points over the past two weeks. It was a strong test for the Bears’ young defense and their new leader. The challenge was met, and harshly.
Atlanta could do nothing against the Bears defense all game. Chicago steamrolled them 31-3 and knocked their starting quarterback out of the game. They also had no answer for Urlacher who did everything there was to do in four quarters. He made five tackles, a sack, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and also recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
#1: @ Arizona Cardinals (2006)
This was the game that made Urlacher a legend. By all rights the Bears should’ve been clobbered in this matchup against the Cardinals on Monday Night Football. The offense turned it over six times and the Bears trailed 23-3 at one point in the second half. Most felt the game was already over. The only one who refused to let that stand was Urlacher.
He was literally everywhere that night. Official NFL records say he made 19 tackles though some proclaim it was actually 25. In addition to that, he also deflected two passes and forced a critical fumble that was returned for a touchdown, cutting the Cardinals lead to 23-17. There’s no way they win without him that night.
It was the signature victory of that season and the night Urlacher cemented his legacy.
