HR0813 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0813 LRB100 20429 MST 35766 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest defensive linebackers to ever play professional football, dazzling Chicago fans with his intensity and work ethic on the field coupled with a stand-up reputation off the field; and

WHEREAS, Brian Urlacher was born on May 25, 1978 in Pasco, Washington; he moved to New Mexico where he attended Lovington High School and excelled in football, basketball, track, and table tennis; and

WHEREAS, Even as a young football player, Brian Urlacher's prodigious athleticism and versatility allowed him playing time as a running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and defensive back; he led the Lovington High School Wildcats to an undefeated 14 and 0 season and a division 3-A state championship; he finished the season with 12 touchdown receptions, six touchdown returns, and two rushing touchdowns; and

WHEREAS, In addition to state-recognized honors in football and basketball, Brian Urlacher's alma mater, Lovington High School, recognized his accomplishments by retiring his high-school jersey number and naming a holiday after him; and

WHEREAS, Upon graduating from Lovington High School, Brian Urlacher enrolled at the University of New Mexico, majored in criminology, and played for the New Mexico Lobos football team; he finished his football career with 442 tackles, three interceptions, 11 sacks, and 11 forced fumbles, along with catching six touchdown passes and returning five kicks for touchdowns; and

WHEREAS, Brian Urlacher's remarkable career at UNM was highlighted with All-American honors from Walter Camp, the Football Writers Association of America, and the Associated Press; his collegiate play culminated with his selection to the 2000 Senior Bowl, where he was one of the game's top players; and

WHEREAS, Brian Urlacher impressed spectators and analysts at the NFL Scouting Combine by bench pressing 225 pounds 27 times and completing the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds; he caught the eye of the Chicago Bears, who ultimately selected him in the first round as the draft's ninth overall pick; and

WHEREAS, Bear's head coach, Dick Jauron, recognized Brian Urlacher's versatility as a middle and outside linebacker and appointed him as the team's starting strong-side linebacker; and

WHEREAS, During his first season with the Bears, Brian Urlacher recorded 124 tackles and eight sacks, surpassing the franchise's previous rookie records; he received a number of individual accolades for his performance during the season, including from the Associated Press and The Sporting News, who named him as the 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Brian Urlacher played one of the best games of his career on October 7, 2001 against the Atlanta Falcons, where he held Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was well known for his scrambling abilities, to 18 rushing yards and recorded a forced fumble with a sack, demonstrating his immense athletic ability; he recovered Michael Vick's fumble for a 90-yard touchdown; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, Brian Urlacher won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year after the Bears allowed the fewest points per game and created the most turnovers in the National Football Conference; additionally, he recorded at least 10 tackles in six consecutive games, while finishing the season with a team-high 121 tackles; and

WHEREAS, Brian Urlacher's natural talent as a leader was shown in the 2005 season, when he helped the Bears come back from a 20-point deficit against the Arizona Cardinals by recording 19 tackles and a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, Brian Urlacher was awarded the Ed Block Courage Award, given to those who showed a commitment to sportsmanship and courage; during his award acceptance speech, he thanked the Bears for their support after his mother Lavoyda Lenard died; and

WHEREAS, Brian Urlacher played 182 games with the Chicago Bears recording 1,037 solo tackles, 316 assisted tackles, 41.5 sacks with 252 lost yards, and 22 interceptions for 324 yards and two touchdowns; and

WHEREAS, Brian Urlacher was the main reason Lovie Smith's Cover 2 defense was so successful in Chicago, rushing offences sideline-to-sideline while at the same time having the ability to drop back in coverage and take away the middle third of the field; this fluidity allowed him to lead the Bear defense to the top five in points allowed four times during his tenure with the team: in 2005, 2006, 2010, and 2012; and

WHEREAS, Brian Urlacher stated "If you play middle linebacker, you want to play in Chicago because, to me, it's the most coveted defensive position in football: middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears", and "It was an honor" after hearing he became the 28th Hall of Famer to enter as a Bear in the eight-member 2018 class; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we applaud and commend Brian Urlacher for his accomplishments during his 12 seasons playing for the Chicago Bears; his hard-work, dedication, and commitment to teamwork, exemplified day-in and day-out, gave fans a reason to enjoy the game despite the ebbs and flows of the season; in addition to maintaining an unwavering commitment to the game, he demonstrated excellent leadership and poise which garnered the respect of teammates, coaches, opponent, and fans alike; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Brian Urlacher and the Chicago Bears.