Brian Urlacher, one of the greatest Chicago Bears players ever, announced his retirement Wednesday on Twitter.
“After spending a lot of time this spring thinking about my NFL future, I have made a decision to retire,” he wrote in a statement. “Although I could continue playing, I’m not sure I would bring a level of performance or passion that’s up to my standards. When considering this, along with the fact that that I could retire after a 13-year career wearing only one jersey for such a storied franchise, my decision became pretty clear.”
In a released statement Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey said,
“How lucky we were that Brian Urlacher was a Chicago Bear.
“Brian announced his retirement in the same, understated way in which he carried himself at Halas Hall the last 13 years – he simply wanted to be one of the guys and play the game he loves. But his rare ability, work ethic and passion for football put him among the greats to ever play the game. Besides superlative play on the field, he was also the unquestioned leader in the locker room, as well as the sometimes reluctant face of the franchise. Brian is a special person who represented our team and our city with skill and humility while never seeking acclaim or recognition.
“In the pantheon of Bears, Brian has earned his place alongside Halas, Grange, Nagurski, Ditka, Payton – and yes, Bill George, Butkus and Singletary.
“We congratulate Brian on a brilliant career and he will continue to be a welcomed member of the Bears Family in retirement.”
