Brian Urlacher is considered one of the best defensive players of all time and after playing 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears he was released to find a new team, but no one came calling, so now the linebacker is calling it quits.
According to ESPN.com, Urlacher has decided to officially retire after not being able to find an NFL team at the age of 34 (he will be 35 this week). The move highlights and issue for the NFL in the fact that Urlacher is still a solid player, but since he is "too old" he couldn't find another job. The Minnesota Vikings appeared to be interested, but that soon went away and now the linebacker is left to wonder what will be next. Urlacher would be a good fit in television, but he also could move into a coaching role eventually somewhere, as he was always a good leader and a fundamentally sound player.
Urlacher was a Pro Bowl talent and an All-Pro linebacker and he consistently helped the Bears to be one of the top defenses in the NFL. Urlacher announced his retirement on Wednesday, ending a brilliant 13-year career with the National Football League team with a statement on Twitter.
A sure tackler in the middle of the defense, Urlacher lost his quickness last season because of a knee injury and he struggled to find suitors in free agency this offseason after he could not come to contract terms with Chicago. The team went to the super Bowl in 2007 with the help of Urlacher.
Taken with the ninth pick of the first round in the 2000 NFL Draft out of the University of New Mexico, former college safety Urlacher racked up tackles while also flaunting the ability to cover tight ends deep downfield with his speed and athleticism. A highlight of Urlacher's career was his 2007 trip to the Super Bowl, where the Bears fell to the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning.
"After spending a lot of time this spring thinking about my NFL future, I have made a decision to retire," wrote the eight-times Pro Bowl linebacker and Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 who will turn 35 this week.
"Although I could continue playing, I'm not sure I would bring a level of performance or passion that's up to my standards. When considering this, along with the fact that I could retire after a 13-year career wearing only one jersey for such a storied franchise, my decision became pretty clear."
(Reuters Quotes)
