Chicago Bears Football: 5 Reasons Why Brian Urlacher Can Be the Best MLB Ever

Over the last decade Brian Urlacher has dominated the linebacker position in the NFL.

Over his 13-year career the veteran MLB has been selected to eight Pro Bowls and has been a staple in the middle of the Bears' defense.

As a result, the Chicago defenses have been dominant, and for most years the defense has had to carry the team to wins.

Urlacher's consistency should be admired, and it is unmatched in the history of the game.

You have to marvel at Urlacher's career, and he is the best ever—here is why.

Urlacher Has Been Dominant Without a Great Secondary

Throughout his career in a Bears uniform, Urlacher has had lack luster corner back and safety play.

Aside from corner Charles Tillman and Mike Brown for stretches, he has had to play with a below average secondary.

Aside from the 2000-2003 seasons when Mike Brown was at the peak of his career, Urlacher has never had a Pro Bowl level safety.

Once Brown's career went down with injury problems Brian Urlacher picked up the slack.

In the 2003-2004 seasons Brown missed a combined 18 games due to injury and Urlacher accounted for 186 tackles while only playing 25 games.

Urlacher is great because he plays at a high level no matter who surrounds him.

Brian Urlacher Is the Definition of Consistency

In his 13-year career Urlacher has had at least 100 tackles in every season except for 2004, 2008 and 2009.

During both the 2004 and 2008 he missed a total of 22 games due to injury, and in 2009 he was still very productive with 93 stops in the season.

In 2002 Urlacher had a fantastic season with 151 tackles, 115 of them being solo.

In 2007 Urlacher was even more impressive with 123 tackles, five sacks to go with five interceptions.

At the age of 33 and 34 years old, Urlacher has had a combined total of 227 tackles.

That is amazing to say the least at the most physical position on the field.

When Urlacher is on the field, the offense must take notice because his speed from sideline to sideline is unprecedented in the history of the NFL.

Brian Urlacher Is the Most Versatile Linebacker Ever

When Brian Urlacher arrived on campus at New Mexico, he played both linebacker and safety.

For a player that has developed in to an all-time great at the linebacker position it is crazy to think that he was once in the secondary.

This is a testament to his athleticism, and quite frankly middle linebackers aren't necessarily known for their pass coverage prowess.

Not Urlacher.

In six of his 13 seasons he has had more than one interception, and in eight out of 13 seasons he has picked off a pass.

In his final two seasons in college Urlacher showed his athleticism in different ways returning kicks and playing wide receiver as well.

How many linebackers can say that about their college career?

He Is Great at Getting to the Quarterback

Urlacher is great at tackling ball carriers as we all know, but one thing that is undervalued is his ability to get to the quarterback.

At times the coaching staff can use the future Hall-of-Famer as another pass rusher, and he is very effective in this role.

In eight of his 13 seasons he has recorded a sack, including a career-high eight in his rookie season. 

The NFL is a QB driven league, and getting to the quarterback is the staple of any dominant defense.

Throughout his career 13-year career the MLB has 41.5 sacks. 

To put that in perspective Ray Lewis has one fewer sack, despite playing 52 more games.

Players Want to Play with Him

Luring a top free agent like Julius Peppers was huge for the franchise, and a big role in landing the freakish defensive end was Brian Urlacher.

His teammates simply love him, and you never hear a player talk ill of the veteran leader.

He is great in the locker room, and that is a trait that many people tend to overlook.

But through the years, look at a player with elite talent such as Terrell Owens, and how much destruction they have caused on every team he has landed.

Having a player like Urlacher on your team makes playing in Chicago a more lucrative option, and the Bears reaped the benefits when Peppers opted to sign a multi-year deal in the Windy City.

With his leadership, versatility and consistent production, Urlacher has proved time and time again he is the best linebacker to ever play the game.

There has never been a linebacker who could play the game like the veteran MLB, when on the field he is a tackling machine, can cover the pass and leads his team to victory year-in-year-out.