New York, N.Y. — Brian Urlacher’s 2017 was pretty solid with his induction into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame on December 8. Urlacher’s 2018 is shaping up nicely as well as he was named one of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Joining Urlacher as finalists are Tony Boselli, Isaac Bruce, Brian Dawkins, Alan Faneca, Steve Hutchinson, Joe Jacoby, Edgerrin James, Ty Law, Ray Lewis, John Lynch, Kevin Mawae, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Everson Walls. The 15 finalists will be joined by senior finalists Robert Brazile and Jerry Kramer and contributor finalist Bobby Beathard.
The list of finalists was reduced from a group of 27 semifinalists. Urlacher would become the first Lobo to make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Urlacher had a brilliant four-year career for the Lobos under Dennis Franchione and Rocky Long. Urlacher mostly played the hybrid “Lobo” back, which was a cross between a linebacker and a free safety. The Lovington, New Mexico, native played from 1996-99, earning All-America honors in both 1998 and 1999, including being named a Concensus First Team All-America in 1999 after one of the greatest seasons in Lobo history.
Overall, Urlacher’s 442 career tackles were good for fourth all-time at UNM, and his 11 forced fumbles are second. He also was a three time WAC/Mountain West Player of the Week. In 2013, Urlacher’s number 44 was retired, the fourth such honor to be given to a Lobo football player.
His brilliant collegiate career at UNM led to his selection in the 2000 NFL Draft, where he was the ninth overall selection, selected by the Chicago Bears. He would go on to have an amazing 13-year career in Chicago, starting 180 of 182 games and setting a franchise record with 1,353 tackles, including 153 in 2002, which is still a Bears single-season record. He also recorded five touchdowns in his career along with 41.5 sacks, 22 interceptions and 12 forced fumbles.
Among his NFL honors, he was voted to eight NFL Pro Bowls, was named the Associated Press and The Sporting News Defensive Rookie of the Year (2000), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2005), and was named the Ed Block Courage Award winner for commitment to sportsmanship and courage (2012). He was a member of the 2000s All-Decade Team, and he was named First Team All-Pro in 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2006, and he was a Second Team All-Pro in 2010.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee will meet in Minneapolis on Feb. 3, 2018, the night before the Super Bowl, and elect 4-8 new members of the Hall of Fame. The Class of 2018 will be enshrined next August during Hall of Fame Weekend in Canton, Ohio.
The 2018 Modern-Era Finalists with their positions, years and teams:
Tony Boselli, Tackle, 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars
Isaac Bruce, Wide Receiver, 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers
Brian Dawkins, Safety, 1996-2008 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-2011 Denver Broncos
Alan Faneca, Guard, 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals
Steve Hutchinson, Guard, 2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-2011 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee Titans
Joe Jacoby, Tackle, 1981-1993 Washington Redskins
Edgerrin James, Running Back, 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks
Ty Law, Cornerback, 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005, 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos
Ray Lewis, Linebacker, 1996-2012 Baltimore Ravens
John Lynch, Free Safety, 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
Kevin Mawae, Center, 1994-97 Seattle Seahawks, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 2006-09 Tennessee Titans
Randy Moss, Wide Receiver, 1998-2004, 2010 Minnesota Vikings, 2005-06 Oakland Raiders, 2007-2010 New England Patriots, 2010 Tennessee Titans, 2012 San Francisco 49ers
Terrell Owens, Wide Receiver, 1996-2003 San Francisco 49ers, 2004-05 Philadelphia Eagles, 2006-08 Dallas Cowboys, 2009 Buffalo Bills, 2010 Cincinnati Bengals
Brian Urlacher, Linebacker, 2000-2012 Chicago Bears
Everson Walls, Cornerback, 1981-89 Dallas Cowboys, 1990-92 New York Giants, 1992-93 Cleveland Browns