The 2000s era of defense was one defined by the rule of two middle linebackers. One in the AFC. One in the NFC. They were Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis. It’s remarkable how intertwined their careers have been. They each hit the national consciousness in 2000. Lewis was Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP. Urlacher was Rookie of the Year. It seemed almost fitting both retired at the same time and now stand on the cusp of entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
So that brings up the inevitable question. Who was better? If people were to examine the straight number, unfortunately, Bears fans won’t get their way. Most would almost certainly take Lewis in a head-to-head.
Urlacher:
- 1,354 tackles
- 41.5 sacks
- 22 interceptions
- 85 passes defended
- 11 forced fumbles
- 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year
- 2005 Defensive Player of the Year
- 8x Pro Bowler
Lewis:
- 2055 tackles
- 41.5 sacks
- 31 interceptions
- 81 passes defended
- 19 forced fumbles
- 2x Defensive Player of the Year (2000,2003)
- 2x Super Bowl champion
- 2000 Super Bowl MVP
- 13x Pro Bowler
From a numerical perspective, Lewis was clearly superior. That said pro football has always been a game that goes beyond the numbers. At least one prominent former player thinks people don’t have a firm grasp of how great Urlacher was. Among his staunchest defenders is former All-Pro center Kevin Mawae.
Mawae believes Brian Urlacher was more complete player than Lewis
Mawae might know a thing or two about football. He himself was an eight-time Pro Bowler for the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans. He went up against the best the NFL had to offer for a long time, including Urlacher and Lewis. That sort of experience, in his estimation, gives him a clear perspective on which was better.
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Though he made it clear both are going to the Hall of Fame, if he had to pick one? It has to be Urlacher.
“I played against both of the guys, and Ray was … the guy belongs in the Hall of Fame, no doubt about it,” he said. “But I’ve got to view it in the lens of how I played against guys … not as if I was in the coach … I’ve got to do it in how I played against them. To me, Ray was all over the place — an athletic guy, but he was not a downhill hitter. He’s not taking on offensive linemen. He was a jump-around guy.
“Brian Urlacher, sideline to sideline … could do it all … just like Ray. But he was more of a physical player in the box against offensive linemen, and that’s just the way I view it. Half-one dozen, half the other. Both of them are going to get in. You know what I’m saying?”
Mawae does have a point. For as brilliant and gifted as Lewis was, there were certain things he was never asked to do in Baltimore because he couldn’t and also because he didn’t have to. If one were to examine the rosters of the Bears and Ravens throughout their careers, Lewis most definitely played with a higher volume of great teammates.
Mawae went on to explain why he feared Urlacher more
“With Ray … I mean, he was physical at the point of attack … at the tackle … and making the plays,” said Mawae. “And both of the guys were equally smart in diagnosing and getting a defense lined up. But, from an offensive lineman’s standpoint, Ray Lewis was not going to come down and hit you. He was going to try to make you miss — a lot like Junior Seau. Seau didn’t take on blocks. He kind of jumped around.
“Urlacher did all the stuff Ray did. But he played downhill on you. He’s going to come in and put his helmet on you and shed blocks. I never felt that way about Ray.”
In the end, it doesn’t really matter. Both Lewis and Urlacher will end up in Canton. That’s a foregone conclusion. Even so, it’s nice to hear somebody take Urlacher’s side for once and truly appreciate how great of a player he was. He may not have gotten the rings like Lewis did, but that doesn’t make him any less of a defensive legend. Fans will find out on February 3rd whether he’ll be donning a gold jacket in 2018.
