Brian Urlacher is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. One of the greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. An icon of the Chicago Bears. Part of that was his extraordinary athletic ability. He was a once-in-a-generation physical marvel. However, it’s easy to forget how hard he actually worked to become as great as he was. A big part of that was getting good coaching at the right times.
The two men he’s consistently credited the most for making him the all-time great he was were former Bears head coach Lovie Smith and linebackers coach Bob Babich. It’s always been a bit of a curiosity. What made those two so instrumental to his success. After all, Urlacher was already a star before they arrived in 2004.
For the first time, he opened up about what it was they did. During an interview with former teammate Hunter Hillenmeyer on the Next Play Perspectives podcast, he explained the best piece of advice they gave to him. Advice he relays to younger players today.
“I always thought I played hard playing football. You know I always thought I was whistle to whistle, I played hard, I ran hard the whole time. I didn’t. Until our coaches showed up, (Bob) Babich and Coach (Lovie) Smith. Until they showed up? I guess the thing is, if there’s a change of speed, you’re loafing.”
Urlacher had the concern that if he went 100% on every play like that, he’d end up making mistakes and missing gap assignments. He quickly realized the problem there.
“Get in better shape. When I talk to kids now about football and I watch them? I’m like, they think they’re playing hard but you can judge how hard a guy’s playing because you know what it’s supposed to look like. So do I because we got ridiculed every single Monday after the game for not playing the way we should’ve been playing. So…if there’s a change of speed? You’re loafing.”
Brian Urlacher tapped into that critical edge the greats have
Jimmy Johnson once made a speech to the football players at the University of Miami. He said that most people believe football was ruled by the toughest guys. “Bulls**t,” he said. He learned that football rewards those who are in great condition. What so often separates winners and losers is which guy is sucking wind in the 4th quarter and which is just getting started. Those who are in great shape always get rewarded.
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That is what Smith and Babich were telling Urlacher. They needed to send that message to the best player in the locker room. If he wants to reach the mountain top, he has to put in the work and make the sacrifices to get there. The linebacker bought in completely and by his second year under them was the Defensive Player of the Year. A year after that the Bears were in the Super Bowl.
It’s little wonder those words stick with him to this day.