Chicago Bears: Top 10 draft picks in franchise history

4. Brian Urlacher, Linebacker: First Round, No. 9 Overall, 1999

Brian Urlacher is another in the long list of Chicago Bears great linebackers. He is a member of the 2018 Hall of Fame class.

Urlacher was an athletic player who ran sideline-to-sideline quickly and effortlessly. Also, he could drop back in coverage. In his 13-year career, he was an eight-time Pro Bowler, a four-time First Team and one-time Second Team All-Pro, a Defensive Rookie of the Year award winner and a Defensive Player of the Year award winner. He finished his career with 1,353 tackles, 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions and two touchdowns. He even caught a pass and took it 27 yards for a touchdown.

Urlacher led a defense in 2006 that was practically the reason the Bears made it to the Super Bowl. The Bears did not win it, but the defense was one of the best in the NFL. He also led the Bears to four division titles. In his time in Chicago, the Bears finished in the top-five in points allowed four times (2005, 2006, 2010 and 2012)

While the Bears struggled to get good, consistent play from the quarterback position, Urlacher became the face of the franchise.

Urlacher’s most memorable game came in the 2006 season when he almost single-handedly brought the Bears back from a 20-point deficit. He would not allow the Bears to lose, recording 19 tackles and just blowing blockers and ball carriers back. Ultimately, a Devin Hester 83-yard punt return for a touchdown won the game, but without Urlacher, the Bears don’t win.

Since leaving football after the 2012 season, the Bears struggled to find a linebacker to replace him. Perhaps that changes in 2018.