Brian Urlacher Comes to John Fox's Defense in New Interview
By James Neveau •
Chicago Bears head coach John Fox doesn’t have a lot of fans left in the Windy City, but there’s at least one prominent former player that has his back.
That player is legendary linebacker Brian Urlacher, who came to Fox’s defense during a television appearance this week on the NFL Network.
Despite Fox’s record of having the worst winning percentage in Bears history, Urlacher still feels that the coach has earned himself more time with the way the team’s defense has played, and that he hopes he gets to stick around to see the fruits of his labor.
“I haven’t been excited about the Bears in a couple of years, but I’m excited now,” he said. “I just hope they keep coach Fox around long enough to see the fruits of his labor with this defense.”
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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.
Urlacher also praised quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, and called for him to be given more freedom to run the team’s offense.
Speculation about Fox’s future with the team has been swirling all season long, and has grown deafening as the Bears have lost five games in a row. That losing streak includes a loss to the lowly San Francisco 49’ers, who had one win before knocking off the Bears at Soldier Field.
