Alshon Jeffery Opens Up About Decision to Leave Bears
By James Neveau •
The Chicago Bears will face former wide receiver Alshon Jeffery for the first time on Sunday, and while he left the Windy City over the offseason, he insists there are no hard feelings.
“Business is business,” Jeffery told media members on Wednesday. “I think it was just a better decision for me and my family, honestly. I spent five years there. I love it there. Me being in Chicago gave me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream of playing a professional sport.”
Jeffery, who was drafted by the Bears in the 2012 NFL Draft, has caught 38 passes for 567 yards and six touchdowns for the Eagles, who are the owners of the best record in the NFL. He has been a key weapon for second-year quarterback Carson Wentz, and he represents the kind of playmaker that the Bears have lacked in his absence.
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In Urlacher's rookie season, he won the Associated Press' Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
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Urlacher had one offensive touchdown in his career: a receiving touchdown against Washington in a Dec. 2001 game.
Urlacher was named to the NFL's All-Pro team four times in his career, receiving that honor for the 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2006 seasons.
Urlacher was named the Associated Press' Defensive Player of the Year for his exploits during the 2005 season. He registered 79 tackles, six sacks, and forced a fumble during that campaign.
Urlacher set an NFL record when he was credited with 26 tackles in a single game against the Cardinals in 2006.
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Urlacher registered 92 tackles and intercepted three passes during the 2006 season, helping guide the Bears to a berth in Super Bowl XLI against the Indianapolis Colts.
Urlacher ultimately made eight Pro Bowl appearances for the Bears in his decorated career.
Urlacher had a nose for the end zone, scoring four defensive touchdowns, including an interception return for a touchdown in his final pro season in 2012.
Urlacher started 180 games in his career with the Bears, falling just short of Walter Payton's team record of 184 career starts in a Bears uniform.
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Urlacher was credited with 1229 tackles in his NFL career, the most of any player in Bears history.
The receiver was let go by the team after five seasons, with the team seemingly unwilling to give him a long-term contract extension that he so badly wanted. The Eagles ended up signing him to a one-year deal, but Jeffery insists he’s leaving the past in the past.
“Now I’m here in Philly. Can’t take the past back, so it is what it is,” he said.
The Bears’ top wide receiver this season is Kendall Wright, who has 29 receptions for 330 yards and a touchdown this season.
