Update: Brian Urlacher is Bears 28th Hall of Famer

[Richie]

They just showed a clip on NFL Network of Dan Pompei debating the case for Urlacher in front of the committee.

I think he's a first ballot HOF guy... but this class has a lot of big names. Makes me a tad uneasy.

[G08]

It's him or Lewis. I hope Pompei pushes the "class act and model teammate/citizen" angle hard

[Atkins&Rebel]

It's him or Lewis. I hope Pompei pushes the "class act and model teammate/citizen" angle hard

Can't be both?

[CrownMyAss]

Yeah, have a hard time believing it can't be both. Urlacher and Lewis were always easily 1/2 or 1a/1b in the league during their reign of terror. Of course, Lewis has more of the bling, but also is marred in controversy, while Urlacher is far more underrated.

[The Marshall Plan]

Both can get in and both deserve to be first ballot.

[Rusty Trombagent]

It's him or Lewis. I hope Pompei pushes the "class act and model teammate/citizen" angle hard

i hope bas rutten isnt a voter!

[malk]

They just showed a clip on NFL Network of Dan Pompei debating the case for Urlacher in front of the committee.

I think he's a first ballot HOF guy... but this class has a lot of big names. Makes me a tad uneasy.

Lewis, Urlacher, Moss, Faneca should be the leaders, James or Owens next. Not sure anyone else really has a case this year?

EDIT: Though I don't think Urlacher is getting in this year. Politics will deem him "not a 1st ballot" player and ignore him for that reason.

[Moriarty]

No question he belongs.

I don't follow HoF stuff all that closely, but seems like an awfully good class this year, though.

[malk]

Looks like he's in!

www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-brian-urlacher-hall-of-fame-bears-20180203-story.html

[Middleguard]

Quite right.

[Umbali]

NICE!!

[malk]

Whilst we're discussing this, why on earth didn't he get any DPOY love in 2007? I know the defence overall was average but that was Urlacher's best statistical season.

Also, forgot that Washington offered to swap 1st rounders with us for Briggs that year. Patrick Willis would have been a nice replacement, AP wouldn't have been terrible either!

[Richie]

He's in!

[Umbali]

DILLY DILLY!

[FaithInCutler]

Is it true?!

[UOK]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/fo ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's official! Urlacher is a Hall of Famer!

[GSH]

my bears helmet signed by urlacher just went up in value nicely then

some douche on my facebook feed saying ' brian urlacher is NOT hall of fame'...ok playa, 7 pro-bowls and a trip to the superbowl, dominant in his position...

[mmmc_35]

It's him or Lewis. I hope Pompei pushes the "class act and model teammate/citizen" angle hard

i hope bas rutten isnt a voter!

That shit is funny.

https://youtu.be/WGDFr-BXp0I

And some Bas Kos for good measure

https://youtu.be/WGDFr-BXp0I

Congrats Urlacher

[docc]

Urlacher the Linebacker !!
HOF deserved..
George..Butkus..Singelterry..Urlacher
Loved watching them all destroy !

[Mikefive]

Dilly Dllly!

(Hat tip to Umbali.)

[marlin]

Congrats to Brian. Not many people can claim to have literally revolutionized the position they were playing. It's a shame his last few years hurt his overall reputation, but considering he played 13 years, I think he deserves putting those final years in that context. Urlacher got hurt in his 10th season and missed the whole year. If Brian had just retired after his 9th year like Butkus did, not a single person would be questioning whether Brian was a first ballot HoF'er.

It helps his rep, as the "quarterback of the D", that the Bears overall D was bad before he became a Bear, and historically terrible after he left, but a powerhouse most of the years he played, and at worst, rarely even below average. Checking out the stats, both of the years the Bears' D was below average was during Brian's first 4 years--that's defining average as a rank between 12-21 in the league...and one of those years, their rank was only 22, so only barely below average. Imagine what the Bears could've accomplished if they hadn't had 17 QBs throughout Urlacher's career.

[RING4CHI]

LOL, he had a "do not disturb" sign on his door when the hall of fame came a knocking.

[The Marshall Plan]

Congrats to Brian. Not many people can claim to have literally revolutionized the position they were playing. It's a shame his last few years hurt his overall reputation, but considering he played 13 years, I think he deserves putting those final years in that context. Urlacher got hurt in his 10th season and missed the whole year. If Brian had just retired after his 9th year like Butkus did, not a single person would be questioning whether Brian was a first ballot HoF'er.

It helps his rep, as the "quarterback of the D", that the Bears overall D was bad before he became a Bear, and historically terrible after he left, but a powerhouse most of the years he played, and at worst, rarely even below average. Checking out the stats, both of the years the Bears' D was below average was during Brian's first 4 years--that's defining average as a rank between 12-21 in the league...and one of those years, their rank was only 22, so only barely below average. Imagine what the Bears could've accomplished if they hadn't had 17 QBs throughout Urlacher's career.

I remember when they drafted him. Part of me thought Hatley was nuts taking a safety and converting to MLB. Wow was I wrong. I loved watching him play and if the Bears had even an average QB in 2006 he'd have his Super Bowl victory.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

Very happy for him. One thing you knew about Urlacher in his prime. He was going to bring it, every single Sunday. His combination of size and speed was, and still is, so rare at the LB position. Congrats Brian!!

[Mikefive]

Congrats to Brian. Not many people can claim to have literally revolutionized the position they were playing. It's a shame his last few years hurt his overall reputation, but considering he played 13 years, I think he deserves putting those final years in that context. Urlacher got hurt in his 10th season and missed the whole year. If Brian had just retired after his 9th year like Butkus did, not a single person would be questioning whether Brian was a first ballot HoF'er.

It helps his rep, as the "quarterback of the D", that the Bears overall D was bad before he became a Bear, and historically terrible after he left, but a powerhouse most of the years he played, and at worst, rarely even below average. Checking out the stats, both of the years the Bears' D was below average was during Brian's first 4 years--that's defining average as a rank between 12-21 in the league...and one of those years, their rank was only 22, so only barely below average. Imagine what the Bears could've accomplished if they hadn't had 17 QBs throughout Urlacher's career.

I remember when they drafted him. Part of me thought Hatley was nuts taking a safety and converting to MLB. Wow was I wrong. I loved watching him play and if the Bears had even an average QB in 2006 he'd have his Super Bowl victory.

I was a huge draftnik back then and remember feeling somewhat the same way. I hated the Urlacher idea for most of the pre-draft and then came around to be OK with it about the last week before the draft, simply due to his outrageous measurables. I figured the worst case scenario was we'd move him to safety and he'd be the biggest safety ever who would occasionally kill people over the middle. And please anyone besides Plax Burress.

[Boris13c]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/fo ... story.html

It's official! Urlacher is a Hall of Famer!

well deserved, and now in his rightful place with those that have gone before him :

Bill George - HoF Class of 1974

Dick Butkus - HoF Class of 1979

Mike Singletary - HoF Class of 1998

congratulations to him

[Funkster]

Lach played the game like a true football player. He bought into a system that eventually paved his way to the HOF. He played prepared and brought the physicality needed to be a great Bears MLB. Now his name will forever be right along side with the great Bears LBers! Congratulations Urlacher.

I bet him being enshrined didn't hurt my autographed matted, framed with COA jersey either

[wab]

I bet him being enshrined didn't hurt my autographed matted, framed with COA jersey either

Ha ha, I went and grabbed the autographed helmet that was sitting on my kid's dresser and put it up in the closet.

[WagonForce]

I loved watching Brian play, and am very happy for him to be honored in the HoF.

[YOGABBA]

Bas Rutton laughs at this.