Urlacher signed, sealed, delivered
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (June 16, 2000) The Chicago Bears signed versatile linebacker Brian Urlacher, the ninth overall pick in the 2000 draft, to a five-year contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
After playing strong safety and linebacker and being utilized also as a wide receiver and on special teams at New Mexico, Urlacher is penciled in as the Bears' starting strongside linebacker.
The Bears spent the offseason upgrading a defense that ranked 29th in the league last season. Along with drafting Urlacher, the Bears signed end Phillip Daniels, cornerback Thomas Smith and safety Shawn Wooden as free agents.
Most NFL scouts were enamored with Urlacher's versatility. The 6-foot-3, 244-pounder was the second linebacker selected after LaVar Arrington, who was taken second overall by Washington.
The Mountain West Player of the Year, Urlacher recorded a stunning total of 332 tackles in his last two years at New Mexico playing at strong safety-rover as well as inside and outside linebacker. He also returned 10 punts, three kickoffs and made seven catches ? six for touchdowns ? for 61 yards playing in the red-zone offense.
The Bears have signed seven of their nine draft picks. The only unsigned players are safety Mike Brown, a second-round pick from Nebraska, and receiver Dez White, a third-round selection from Georgia Tech.
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