Brian Urlacher was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018 by the Hall’s board of selectors Saturday. Here’s what you need to know about Urlacher, who will be inducted in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 4:
Résumé: Middle linebacker, 2000-2012, Chicago Bears.
Why he was selected: The ninth overall pick in 2000, Urlacher was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 123 tackles and eight sacks. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 and an eight-time Pro Bowl selection who led Chicago to four division titles and a berth in Super Bowl XLI. Urlacher retired with 41½ sacks and 22 interceptions. He recorded 100-plus tackles in nine of 13 seasons in the NFL.
Urlacher was the main reason Lovie Smith’s Cover 2 defense was so successful in Chicago. A freakish athlete, Urlacher’s ability -- not just to make plays sideline to sideline, but also to drop back in coverage and take away the middle third of the field -- made him invaluable. It’s no coincidence that with Urlacher, the Bears finished among the top five in points allowed four times (2005, 2006, 2010 and 2012).
Remember this? Urlacher’s performance in Chicago’s thrilling come-from-behind Monday night victory in Arizona in 2006 might be the single most dominant game by a defensive player I have ever witnessed in all my years watching football. That night in the desert, Urlacher annihilated the Cardinals, recording 19 tackles, picking up Arizona players and driving them backward on many of the sticks. That game was memorable for many reasons -- former Arizona coach Dennis Green’s infamous "Crown them!" rant and Devin Hester’s game-winning 83-yard punt return will never be forgotten -- but Urlacher’s manhandling of the Cardinals offense resonates to this day.
