It’s no secret that the Chicago Bears have always had a great tradition of linebackers. Players like Bill George, Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher all come to mind when discussing the linebacker legacy in Chicago.
Earlier this week ESPN.com launched a new list of the top 20 current players that could play in any NFL era.
Each day from Monday January 23rd to Friday January 27, ESPN reveals four players that could play in any NFL era. The panel which consists of Hall of Fame players votes on who they feel would make an impact, no matter what era that play in.
Many Bears fans believe that Urlacher would make the list. Now it’s official.
ESPN announced earlier today that Urlacher is No.5 on the list of players. Finishing ahead of players like Jared Allen, Aaron Rodgers, James Harrison, and Tom Brady.
Here’s what some Hall of Fame players have to say about Urlacher:
Mike Ditka
I think he would have been playing outside linebacker with Dick Butkus, no question. We had a lot of great linebackers in Chicago — Dick Butkus, Bill George, Mike Singletary. Brian Urlacher is a very athletic guy playing middle linebacker. He’s got a nonstop motor. Brian Urlacher has stood the test of time. He’ll go down as one of the best middle linebackers in history. He’s very deserving of being on this team.
John Randle
The big thing about Brian Urlacher is his longevity. He does it year after year, and when you think of the Chicago Bears, you think of Brian Urlacher. He’s there week in, week out. To me, the best part of being a player and being a Hall of Famer is longevity.
Jim Brown
Brian Urlacher plays an intelligent game but is also very physical and very tough. He can apply his physicality with a mentality that fits into the game plan. His mental toughness is as good as it gets.
You can read the full article and see the complete list here
Has Urlacher really been around long enough for us to talk about his longevity? I’m getting old. But he’s not getting older, he’s getting better.