Brian Urlacher: Aaron Rodgers Was The Biggest Pain In The Ass
Brian Urlacher is widely regarded as one of the best linebackers of all time and perhaps the most accomplished of the 2000s.
Urlacher was the face of the Chicago Bears franchise two decades ago, winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2005 before leading the team to the Super Bowl during the 2006 season. He spent all 13 years of his career, from 2000 to 2012, in Chicago, earning five All-Pro selections and eight Pro Bowl appearances. Urlacher finished his career with the third-most games played in franchise history.
Rodgers Was Urlacher’s Toughest Opponent
Urlacher faced some of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, including Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl and Tom Brady on three occasions. However, the Hall of Fame linebacker acknowledged that Green Bay Packers great Aaron Rodgers, who is still playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was the toughest quarterback he ever faced.
“It’s Aaron (Rodgers), because we played him twice a year,” Urlacher said in a one-on-one interview with R.org connected to his participation in the American Century Championship, the biggest annual celebrity golf tournament. “I played Peyton maybe two or three times, I think Tom (Brady) as well. Aaron was the biggest pain in the ass. Like I said, the mobility, and we played well against them sometimes. He also had some great games against us.
“When he started playing for them is when they really started turning the tables on that rivalry. We did OK my first six or seven years, and I think we were above .500. When Aaron took over is when they really started to dominate that series versus the Bears. That was because of him.”
Urlacher continued to praise Rodgers, who has won four NFL MVP awards, second only to Manning. Rodgers also has the lowest interception rate in NFL history at 1.4%.
“He was one of the first guys who just moved around to manipulate the pocket and then threw the ball down the field,” Urlacher said. “Most guys did that, and they would try to run. He didn’t do that. He just kind of moved around and threw the ball all the way down the damn field. He had a great arm, so he was just so hard to stop.
“We just ran Cover 2, pretty much. We figured out early on that if we ran Cover 2, we might give up three yards rushing the ball, but he wasn’t going to make big plays against us. So, if they were patient, we would be patient too. And it worked out sometimes. Sometimes it didn’t.”
Rodgers has announced that this season will be his last. When asked what would constitute a successful season for the 42-year-old quarterback, Urlacher said winning the division would probably qualify.
“I still think Aaron can play when he’s healthy. I think he’s two years removed now from the Achilles injury, or maybe three,” Urlacher said. “I have so much respect for him because of what he did when he was at his best. He’s a pain in the ass with his mobility and arm strength. He’s got a great arm and can still sling it. He doesn’t move as well. That’s just age. It happens to us when we get older, but they’re in a tough division.
“I think Cincy is going to be good this year. I don’t think Cleveland’s going to be that great, but Baltimore is really good, so they’re in a tough division. If they win the division, I guess that’s a successful season. Defensively, they were not as good to me last year as they have been. They took a step back last year, so a lot of pressure was on him. But DK (Metcalf) is there, and they’ll find ways to get other guys the ball. I have a ton of respect for him.”
When it was pointed out that the Steelers have not won a playoff game in a decade, Urlacher said a postseason victory would be “great.” However, he believes Rodgers is thinking Super Bowl or bust in his farewell season.
“I would say that’d be great,” Urlacher said. “I guarantee he wants nothing less than a Super Bowl. Everyone thinks like that when you’re playing. If you don’t think you can win the Super Bowl, then why are you playing? I think in his mind it’ll be Super Bowl or bust.
“But I would say, from the outside looking in, a playoff win would be great for them, and even winning the division. Cincy’s going to be good with Joe Burrow, and you’ve got Lamar Jackson over in Baltimore. That’s a good division. Those three teams right there are solid.”
Garrett Makes Rams A Bigger Threat
When discussing the NFC, Urlacher acknowledged that the Bears will have to get through the Los Angeles Rams to have a chance of reaching the Super Bowl. Chicago came up short in an overtime loss to Los Angeles in the divisional round of the playoffs last season.
The problem is that the Rams appear to be even better than they were last year. They acquired reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett after he broke the single-season sack record last season.
The Rams are now considered the favourites to win the Super Bowl, even more so than the defending champion Seattle Seahawks.
“Huge. They’re going all in right now,” Urlacher said of the impact of acquiring Garrett. “They were in the NFC Championship last year, so they’re right there. That division is tough, man. You’ve got the defending Super Bowl champs in there, the Niners are in there, and Arizona’s down a little bit, but they’ll be back, I’m sure, eventually. But man, it’s just a tough division.
“To add a dude who’s a generational talent, there’s not a defensive player in the NFL who does what he does right now. It’s amazing that they got him. If you have a chance to get that guy, I think you make whatever trades you need to make. They don’t place a lot of value on their picks, obviously, because if you can get a player like him, you don’t know that you’ll be able to draft one like that.”
When asked whether he considers the Rams the favourites, Urlacher said Los Angeles and Seattle are the top two teams, with the Seahawks holding the edge until someone beats them.
“Seattle is the favourite until you beat them. They’re probably one and two,” Urlacher said. “Seattle is just going to get better. I don’t know what they lost or what they didn’t lose, but they definitely gained some experience, the playoff experience and Super Bowl experience. That’s going to help. Their fans are great. I think those teams right there are probably one and two.”
Another player who could make the Rams even more formidable is Aaron Donald. Donald has been retired for a couple of years but is regarded as the best defensive player of his generation. The 35-year-old is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and was an eight-time first-team All-Pro during his 10 seasons with the Rams.
Adding Donald to a defensive line featuring Garrett could give the Rams the best front in the NFL.
“I’ve heard he’s still in great shape,” Urlacher said. “I haven’t seen him or talked to him like that, but they say he’s still in great shape. Sit on the couch till, you know, early September, and then jump off the couch and play 20 snaps for the Rams, and you have a really good chance to win a ring.
“I was shocked when he retired, being super young. He didn’t have a ton of injuries. He’s a healthy guy. I’m sure his body feels tremendous right now that he’s retired. I know when I first retired, I was like, ‘I could play more,’ because your body is healthy. But yeah, I hope he does come back. It’d be fun to watch those two together.”
Urlacher, himself a Hall of Famer, also expressed his respect for Donald.
“That’d be awesome, man,” Urlacher said of a possible Donald return. “I have so much respect for what he did when he played and the type of teammate he was, his work ethic. But I think it’s cool when guys who retire young kind of stick around the team.
“You don’t see that a lot because a lot of guys just disappear. But like you said, he’s still around the team, which I think is really cool. It speaks to (Sean) McVay and what they’ve done there and what they’re building. The guys still want to be around. I think that’s really cool.”
Garrett recorded 23 sacks last season, and Urlacher believes it is possible that he could surpass that total, which would break the single-season record he already holds.
“Myles Garrett is going to have 500 sacks this year,” Urlacher said. “He’s going to play with so many leads. He’s never played with a lead in Cleveland. Can you imagine what this guy’s going to do? This dude’s never been on a great team where you can actually rush the quarterback every single play. Now he’s going to be in Los Angeles, and he’s going to be on turf. Unbelievable.
“Think about how nearly every game, they were either behind or it was close. Now they’re going to score a ton of points there, and he’s going to have the lead, so he can rush faster. It’s going to be … it’s going to be stupid to watch.”
Urlacher Returns To Tahoe
As Urlacher prepares to watch the Bears, Rodgers and the Rams this season, he will also participate in the American Century Championship for the 17th or 18th time. The tournament features stars such as Tony Romo, Stephen Curry and John Smoltz.
“Oh gosh, I think this is probably close to my 17th or 18th year playing in the American Century Championship,” Urlacher said. “It’s just fun, man. Every summer, we put that on our calendar, hoping to get the invite. I think the invites go out in February or March, but we just kind of sit around waiting for the invite and then build our summer around this week.
“It’s a blast. The competition’s fun, but hanging out with all those other guys from all the different sports, and then the actors and stuff, it’s just a good week, man. There are a ton of fans who go now. It’s amazing how much it’s blown up there in Tahoe.”