‘The Case for Canton’ debuts Thursday, February 1 at 10:30 PM CT -- Exclusively on NBC Sports Chicago
NBC Sports Chicago live stream available 24/7 on NBCSportsChicago.com/WatchLive or via the NBC Sports app
Chicago, IL (January 30, 2018) – With the upcoming Pro Football Hall of Fame “Selection Saturday” announcement taking place this weekend before Super Bowl LII, NBC Sports Chicago will be presenting Chicago Bears fans with a special treat as seven-time Pro Bowler/current NBC Sports Chicago Bears Postgame Live analyst LANCE BRIGGS holds an exclusive one-on-one interview with his former linemate/2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame “Modern-Era” Finalist BRIAN URLACHER. This NBC Sports Chicago special presentation entitled The Case for Canton debuts this Thursday, February 1 at 10:30 PM CT (NOTE: live stream of this program also available to authenticated NBC Sports Chicago subscribers on NBCSportsChicago.com/WatchLive or via the NBC Sports app).
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Briggs and Urlacher spent ten seasons together as Bears teammates (2003-12), earning their rightful distinction as being two of the greatest linebackers in franchise history. They were a lethal defensive one-two punch during their years together as they combined for 1,600 tackles and 35 sacks, not to mention guiding the Bears to victory in the NFC Championship Game in 2007 and a trip to Super Bowl XLI, in which the Bears fell 29-17 against the Indianapolis Colts. The dedicated work ethic of this dynamic duo also helped the Bears reach the NFC Championship Game again in 2010, this time against the arch-rival Green Bay Packers.
The friendship and mutual respect between the two Bears greats continues to this day and Briggs recently visited Urlacher’s home outside of Phoenix, AZ to discuss the honor and personal sense of accomplishment if Urlacher is enshrined in Canton, Ohio later this year. In addition, Briggs and Urlacher reminisce about their time together as teammates, including their own personal competition with one another on games days.
Urlacher, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and 2005 NFL “Defensive Player of the Year,” is one of 15 “Modern-Era Finalists” up for consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018, which includes stiff competition from a number of other NFL greats this year including Ray Lewis, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Isaac Bruce among others.
Please note the following quotes from NBC Sports Chicago’s special presentation of The Case for Canton, debuting Thursday, February 1 at 10:30 PM CT:
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BRIAN URLACHER on what the Pro Football Hall of Fame means to him and the one individual who represents it: "These are the greatest of all time at the position they played. You can ask me any question about the Bears or football and I'll say Walter Payton."
BRIAN URLACHER on what it would feel like to be enshrined in the Pro Football HOF: "I try not to think about it, because I don't want to be disappointed (if I don’t get in). People are like ‘it's going to be great’ and then I've heard guys say 'I was ready, and I didn't get in.’ I'd love to get in, I think it'd be amazing, it's a big accomplishment, but it doesn't change what I did on the football field. I know that whatever happens between now and the voting, my stats aren't going to get any better."
BRIAN URLACHER on his first impression of Lance Briggs: "You were just a quiet rookie, kind of moody, standoff-ish…I was like ‘why did we draft this guy?!?"
LANCE BRIGGS on his first impression of Brian Urlacher: "For me, the name Brian Urlacher was a household name by the time I got there, and I needed to earn the respect of these guys, so I thought I’m just going to shut up."
BRIGGS/URLACHER on if they ever competed for tackles:
Lance: “People ask me this question all the time, and I always say ‘nah,’ but do you think we ever competed for tackles in a season?”
Brian: “Yes…and you're lying if you say no!”
NBC Sports Chicago will also re-air the special presentation of The Case for Canton on Friday, February 2 at 10:30 PM and fans can also visit NBCSportsChicago.com 24/7 to check out the entire interview and additional online “exclusive” excerpts immediately following the Feb. 1 debut airing. In addition, fans can also get interactive with the special and voice their HOF support for Urlacher throughout the week by utilizing the Twitter hashtag #CA5E4CANTON.