The Facts:
One of the greatest Chicago Bears of all-time will not put on another team's uniform. Urlacher announced his retirement Wednesday on Twitter. "After spending a lot of time this spring thinking about my NFL future, I have made a decision to retire," he wrote in a statement. "Although I could continue playing, I'm not sure I would bring a level of performance or passion that's up to my standards. When considering this, along with the fact that that I could retire after a 13 year career wearing only one jersey for such a storied franchise, my decision became pretty clear."
Reported by NFL.com
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
Urlacher's foot speed rapidly diminished in 2012 because of a knee injury, and he struggled to find interested suitors in free agency this offseason after he couldn't come to terms on a new contract with the Bears. Urlacher was only one season removed from a resurgent 2011 campaign, but the end often comes quickly in the NFL, even for the eight-time Pro Bowl selection. Urlacher entered the league as an immediate star, racking up eight sacks as the 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year. He won the 2005 AP Defensive Player of the Year, and was the key player during a dominant stretch for former Bears coach Lovie Smith's defense. Urlacher made four first-team All Pro teams, a sign of a player at the very top of the game. Urlacher helped redefine the game as the classic "Tampa 2" middle linebacker.
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