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Name: Brian Urlacher
Number: 54 Position: LB Height: 6'3"
Weight: 244
College: New Mexico
Exp: 2
Birthdate: 25-May-1978
Birthplace: Lovington, NM
HIGH SCHOOL
All-state selection as receiver
and safety at Lovington (NM) High…Led club to 14-0 record and state title as
senior…Caught 61 passes for 15 TDs; also returned four punts and two kickoffs
for TDs; two rushing TDs…Also all-district in basketball…Criminology major
COLLEGE CAREER
Versatile athlete who played
outside linebacker and safety on defense, receiver on offense and return
specialist…Two-year starter for Lobos who finished career third on school’s
all-time tackling charts with 442 stops…Also had three interceptions, 11 sacks
and caused 11 fumbles….Averaged 18.8 yards on five kickoff returns, 15.1 yards
on 13 punt returns….Six of of seven catches resulted in touchdowns…Became
school’s first first-round pick since Robin Cole was drafted by Pittsburgh in
1977…Only second defensive player in past seven drafts chosen in first round by
Bears (W. Harris in 1996).
FRESHMAN
One of just two true freshmen
to earn a letter…Played in 10 games, seeing action primarily on special teams...
SOPHOMORE
Second on team with 102
tackles….Also had two sacks and three tackles for loss, three pass deflections
and two interceptions…Interception and five tackles vs. Northern Arizona…Two QB
pressures, fumble recovery and six tackles vs. Texas El-Paso…Had 10 tackles in
games vs. San Diego State and Southern Methodist.…11 stops in games vs. TCU and
BYU…Earned WAC Player of Week after 13-tackle performance, sack and interception
vs. Tulsa…
JUNIOR
First-team all-Mountain West
selection…Started every game at the "Lobo" back (safety) position and led entire
nation with school-record 178 tackles…Also had two sacks and four tackles for
loss, eight pass deflections, three forced fumbles and one fumble
recovery…Opened season with 14 tackles in first career start vs. Idaho State…Had
13 tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass deflections vs. Utah State…15
tackles vs. New Mexico State and 18 tackles and sack vs. Air Force…Career-high
20 tackles and forced fumble vs. San Diego State…Also had 20 stops and forced
fumble vs. Utah…
SENIOR
First-team all-America
selection by Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America and Associated
Press; second-team choice by Sporting News and Football News…All-Mountain
Conference first-team and Player of Year choice…One of three finalists for the
Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football…Started at
free safety but also excelled as return specialist, in addition to seeing
playing time as receiver…Led team in tackles for second straight year as he
delivered 154, one sack and six tackles for loss…Also intercepted a pass and had
seven pass deflections…Caused five fumbles and recovered three for a total of
115 yards in returns…Also played receiver, catching seven passes for 61 yards
and six touchdowns…Returned 10 punts for 158 yards and added 79 yards on three
kickoff returns…Served as co-captain for second straight year…Season count for
plays: 758 on defense, 130 on special teams and 29 on offense for an average of
83 plays per game…Conference Player of Week after 16 tackles, fumble recovery
for 44 yards, pass deflection which resulted in interception, forced fumble on
punt return, two punt returns for 17 yards and the Lobos only score on 20-yard
TD catch…Had 11 tackles and two TD catches vs. New Mexico State…Scored team’s
only TD on eight-yard catch and added eight tackles vs. Boise State…National and
Conference Defensive Player of Week vs. San Diego State: 100 plays, career-high
tying 20 tackles and returned fumble 71 yards for TD in 21-14 win; also two
fumble recoveries, two pass deflections and recovered onside kick to preserve
win…Registered 16 tackles, including three for loss vs. BYU; also forced two
fumbles and returned punt 21 yards…Had 18 tackles, sack and returned three punts
for 37 yards vs. UNLV…20 tackles and an interception vs. Utah…Ended career with
18 tackles, returned two punts for 37 yards and three kickoffs for 79 yards vs.
Air Force…
DRAFT
Drafted 9th overall in the 2000
NFL Draft by the Chicago Bear.
ROOKIE YEAR
Stuggling as an outside
linebacker the Bears elected to not start him for the first 2 games, but a key
injury put Brian in the middle linebacker position. 122 tackles later Brian won
Defensive Rookie Of the Year Award while also be snubbed by Pro Bowl Voters, but
once again due to injuries Mr. Urlacher got his chance and made the trip to te
Pro Bowl, with many more trip to come...