The Brian Urlacher era is over in Chicago.
Urlacher, one of the best and most popular players the Bears have ever had, will not return to the team, it was announced on Wednesday.
“We were unable to reach an agreement with Brian and both sides have decided to move forward,” Bears General Manager Phil Emery said in a statement. “Brian has been an elite player in our league for over a decade. He showed great leadership and helped develop a winning culture over his time with the Bears. We appreciate all he has given our team, on and off the field. Brian will always be welcome as a member of the Bears.”
Although Urlacher was an unsigned free agent, the news comes as a surprise: As recently as this morning, Bears coach Marc Trestman was saying he thought there was a place for Urlacher on the team.
But things change quickly in the NFL, and Urlacher’s days with the Bears have come to an end.