What is Brian Urlacher's Net Worth?
Brian Urlacher is an American former professional football linebacker who has a net worth of $16 million. Urlacher spent 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears in the NFL, earning the nickname "Grrr-Lacher" for his outstanding defensive play. After joining the Bears in 2000, he quickly became one of the team's most valuable and popular players, performing well as a linebacker. During his first season in 2000, he earned the NFL Rookie of the Year Award.
His other accomplishments include eight Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pro honors, and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2005. Prior to his activities in the NFL, he played college football for the University of New Mexico. After his retirement from athletic play in 2012, Urlacher became an analyst for Fox Sports. He was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Early Life
Brian Urlacher was born on May 25th, 1978 in Pasco, Washington. Raised alongside a younger brother, Brian relocated with his mother to Lovington, New Mexico, after his parents split up. During these early years, Urlacher played a number of sports, including football, basketball, track, and table tennis. During this period, his mother was working several jobs to support Brian and his siblings.
Although Urlacher was playing a number of sports, it soon became clear that he was destined for a future as a professional football player. He played as a running back, a wide receiver, a return specialist, and a defensive back while on his high school team. After graduating, he was planning to attend Texas Tech University, but he did not receive an athletic scholarship.
Instead, Urlacher attended the University of New Mexico. During his college years, he studied criminology and played for the college team, the Lobos. This was when Brian was converted into a linebacker. When a new coach came in, Urlacher was converted once again into a cross between a linebacker and free safety. He received more playing time and influenced the team's offensive and defensive strategies. During his final years at college, Brian was also deployed as a return specialist and wide receiver. Urlacher won multiple honors and accolades during his college football years, and this allowed him to approach the NFL draft with confidence.
NFL Career
Multiple teams were interested in signing Brian Urlacher when the 2000 NFL Draft rolled around, but the Chicago Bears ultimately selected him during the first round. Signing a five-year, $8-million contract with the team (which included a $5.5 million signing bonus), Urlacher initially struggled and lost his starting position. However, Brian then stepped in to cover for an injured middle linebacker and showed his potential. He eventually led the Bears with 124 tackles and eight sacks. This, among other accomplishments, was enough to earn Urlacher the 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Over the next few years, Urlacher continued to play an integral role for the Bears. However, the team itself was not performing well. In 2005, he won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, with the Bears allowing the fewest points per game across the entire league. This marked a resurgence for the Bears, although this quickly faded in 2007. After missing a large chunk of the 2009 season due to injury, Urlacher continued to struggle with various issues throughout the next few seasons. He eventually announced his retirement in 2013 via his Twitter account.
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Controversy
Brian Urlacher became mired in controversy after several actions on social media during 2020. First, he created a post on his Instagram that criticized NBA players for boycotting games due to the police shooting of a black man. Next, he "liked" a post that supported Kyle Rittenhouse, a shooting suspect. He was met with widespread criticism for these actions, although many supported his opinions. The Chicago Bears swiftly issued a statement condemning Brian's messages and distanced themselves from their former player.
Real Estate
In 2021, it was reported that Urlacher had recently wrapped up two significant real estate deals. The first involved the selling of a mansion in the Phoenix area, while the second deal involved the selling of a country estate in Illinois. Both transactions were completed within the space of just a few days.
He originally listed his Arizona home for $2.5 million. The residence lies in the neighborhood of Queen Creek, and Brian originally purchased the home for $780,000 in 2014. The mansion boasts six bedrooms, coffered ceilings, and walls of glass. There are also 5,400 square feet of living space. Additional highlights include a gym, a one-bedroom guesthouse, and a pool.
One day after he sold his home in Phoenix, Brian sold his home in Illinois for $1.5 million. While he drew in a profit from his Queen Creek mansion, his Illinois home was sold for a loss. He originally paid about $2.3 million for this country estate all the way back in 2004. Despite originally listing the property for $3 million in 2017, he eventually settled for a much lower sum.
This Illinois residence is located in Libertyville, and it sits on nine acres of land. The home itself offers 11,000 square feet of living space and six bedrooms. Features include a game room, a media area, and a great room with a fireplace. Outside, there is a full-size basketball court, a putting green, pole barns for houses, and a two-story playhouse for the kids. It's worth noting that because Urlacher spent considerable sums on renovations over the years, his losses were even higher when he settled upon a selling price of $1.5 million.
