Overview

After cold cash, speed is the official currency of the NFL. And when Brian Urlacher entered the league in 2000, his speed was breathtaking for a middle linebacker. If a blocker didn't get his hands on him, forget it. He could run sideline to sideline better than anyone else. Urlacher 6-4, 258 pounds with a skinny waist and long legs. He might not have had Dick Butkus' sneer, but he relished the physical contact and verbal interaction with other players. And he developed into one of the finest players Bears fans had ever seen. From his 1,358 career tackles, 41.5 sacks and 22 interceptions, Urlacher's a lock for the Hall of Fame. Chicago Sun-Times sportswriters take a look back at his career and personal life, tracing it from New Mexico to Chicago.