Biography of Brian Urlacher

He moved with his single mother to Albuquerque as a child, and later graduated from the University of New Mexico, where he starred as a strong safety.

Upon being drafted by Chicago, he was converted to middle linebacker, where his tackling skills, speed, agression, and intelligence made him an instant star. Urlacher was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. He has been named to the Pro Bowl four times, and has continued the tradition of exced by such past stars as Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary. He has surpassed the Bears record for Dick Butkus with 214 tackles in 2002. He was the Bears leading tackler in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

Sales of Urlacher replica jerseys have at times been the NFL's best seller, along with other stars like Randy Moss and Michael Vick.

In June 2005, Urlacher filed suit to establish paternity of a child. Genetic testing was completed to prove that he is the father. Tyna Robertson, the mother of the child, has agreed in court that the Bears star is the baby's father. Urlacher also has two daughters from his first marriage. In court documents filed in August 2005, Urlacher expressed a willingness to support the child financially but was concerned with bankrolling "an enhanced lifestyle" for Robertson. Robertson, 33, a former stripper and presently a real estate agent, is the same woman who sued dancer Michael Flatley for $35 million in March 2003, saying he had raped her, and also accused a Naperville, Illinois doctor of inappropriate touching in a story she later recanted.