Is Bears Brian Urlacher One of the All Time Greats? Making the Case.

Though, I think he needs another good season or 2. Otherwise, it may take him several attempts to get it. His biggest obstacle is competing against Ray Lewis, D. Brooks, and that guy who played for the Chargers for all those years. The Hall of Fame is only going to let but so many LBs in at a time.

I do think he makes into the HOF eventually.

I went through and looked at their all time stats. There were very very similar. Consider Lewis has played for 4 more years than Urlacher. I hear all the time that Lewis is a future HoF’r on NFLN and ESPN but never any mention of Urlacher. Check the stats.
                                      
Years
- Urlacher – 2000-2009 (10 Seasons)
- Lewis – 1996-2009 (14 Seasons)
Games
 - Urlacher – 138
- Lewis – 194
Comb
- Urlacher – 934
- Lewis – 1,045
Total
- Urlacher – 706
- Lewis – 754
Ast
- Urlacher – 228
- Lewis – 291
Sck
- Urlacher – 37.5
- Lewis – 36.5
SFTY
- Urlacher – 0
- Lewis – 1
PDef
- Urlacher – 54
- Lewis – 55
Int
- Urlacher – 17
- Lewis – 28
TDs
- Urlacher – 1
- Lewis – 2

I say Urlacher is a sure bet especially if Lewis gets in.

I hope he makes it too, but if he was on a SB winning team with the Bears that would make it a lock.

Dave makes a good point about coaching, schemes and personnel affecting Urlachers performance also. Speculation but good speculation.

Go Bears!

I missed the Butkus years and was born 4 years after the Singletary haydays but i grew up watching Brian Keith Urlacher. I still remember when i saw him beat the redskins on his fake field goal touchdown catch.

My favorite game was the Arizona game where he put the team on his back and put on a performance. I still remember watching him use all his strength in ripping the ball away from Edgerin James.

I live in Maryland so i always argue Urlacher vs Lewis with ravens fans
In case you wonder
Id take Urlacher any day

As for his career the numbers are there, this year is his chance to shut up all the doubters if that line is as half as good as i hope it to be i think Brian either wins Nfl comeback player of the year Defensive MVP.

Is a superbowl ring.
He needs one to get in.

If he doesn’t he’ll make it eventually. But it might take awhile.

Seems like the HOF has been with a real BEEF with Chicago Bears players.
Lots of good chicago bears didn’t get in.
Dent is just the latest example.
But Wilber Marshall should be in there too.
Gary Fencik maybe, a damn good player too.
Jimbo Covert

I’d say Lewis has achieved more, there’s no denying that.
But i can say they’re pretty similar in performance.
I think that when brian has his 14 years of NFL their stats will be very much alike.

Especially with his injuries the past few seasons. If he can return to the form he had in the mid-2000’s for another few seasons, no problem, but if he can’t get his old self back, I can’t see him getting in.

he’s got some work to do, but those stats show a very compelling argument for Lach. A lot of non-Bear fans call him overrated, but I believe he’s a little underrated based on his pass coverage ability.

but since the super bowl, he hasn’t done anywhere near enough to get in.

I don’t think it will really come down to his numbers. I think he’ll end up getting in because of the way he has changed the position, especially in the Tampa 2. Derrick Brooks changed the way WLB is played, but #54 is responsible for creating the modern MLB prototype.

I think he’ll have trouble for a few reasons.

1. The national media seem to credit the “Monsters of the Midway” image for the way our defense plays, rather than the ability of the actual players. It’s much different when you hear about Ray Lewis, Junior Seau, Shawn Merriman, etc. That will, and has, worked against many Bear defenders for a long time (see Richard Dent).
2. He has had a few years of “irrelavance” in the national public’s eye due to injury and coaching ineptitude that he may not get the chance to make up, given his age.
3. He has never been a “media darling” which makes a huge difference when the voting begins. Ray Lewis, despite his legal and off the field issues, is always a good soundbite and puts on his stupid show when he’s introduced before the games. Unfortunately, that kind of crap is always remembered while the relatively quiet guys seem to go unappreciated (again, see Richard Dent).
4. Brian did himself no favors getting into the war of words with Sayers and Butkus this past offseason. Voters don’t want to hear guys badmouthing icons and HOF’ers. I don’t want to get into the whole argument about who was right and who was wrong because it doesn’t matter. It’s the impression that will last, not the facts.

And 6 Pro Bowls to go along with it….

I look at players that played great for 10 years as locks… I think he just needs to elevate his game for another couple years. And the voters seem to respect a Super Bowl winner, so that sure would help his case.

But without a Super bowl win he will not be a first ballot. I don’t even think Junior Seau will be a first balloter. It is getting harder and harder to get first ballot Hall of Fame votes without at least one Super Bowl. And honestly, there is no way he should get in before at least Richard Dent. Yes that is a ways away, Urlacher hasn’t even stopped playing yet but a Super Bowl win, maybe even a Super Bowl MVP will definetly get him in first trip.

Without it, it will take quite a few years i think but i am sure he will eventually make it.

I also like how you referenced Spongie on your spelling or Corps lol. We wouldn’t want him to flip out again.

we can discuss Urlacher getting his nod. I think though that if Brian gets a few more Pro Bowl nods and maybe a few more All Pro selections he shouldn’t have much issue making it in. I’ve always loved him and thought he fit the MLB tradition very well. While he may not be a Dick Butkus or Mike Singletary but he isn’t far behind.