Brian Urlacher says Bears Indiana move is strategic, supports Soldier Field

Brian Urlacher calls his former team's bluff.

The Chicago Bears made history by moving from the Windy City to Hammond, Indiana, announcing in June that it was an “advanc.”[ing]”their stadium project in the city.

But Urlacher is still holding out hope of staying at least in the state of Illinois.

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“I think that was a ploy to try to get the state of Illinois to do something more than what they did, which is nothing,” Urlacher said on Fox News Digital recently. “The Bears bought land in Arlington Heights. They have it there, ready to go. They need a little money from the state to build a stadium.

“I just can't see the Bears leaving Illinois. It's driving me crazy. And I don't want them to leave Soldier Field, honestly. I wish they could do something to keep them there, but they want the dome, they want Super Bowls, they want Final Fours. They want all those big things. I get it. I just hate the fact that they're leaving Soldier Field.”

“I understand that Indiana is giving them good deals in terms of taxes – $2.5 billion to build a stadium. That's a big deal. As a businessman, who should own it these days, it makes sense to go. Unless Illinois comes up with something, I don't see them staying there,” he added.

Perhaps Urlacher's son, Kennedy, could become a Hammond legend – currently a safety at USC after playing his first season with Notre Dame. He played in the national championship with the Fighting Irish, but it was time to move on.

“NIL has been good for him,” Urlacher agreed. But the Urlachers also know that Kennedy will be the Trojans' starter.

Maybe the last name helped Kennedy get some extra money, but my father said Kennedy wanted to work for himself.

Kennedy Urlacher of the Southern California Trojans looks up into the crowd during the game between UCLA and USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 29, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Photos by Melinda Meijer/ISI via Getty Images)

CHICAGO NAMED BRIAN URLACHER SLAMS ILLINOIS DEMOCRACY AS PARTY PREPARES TO LEAVE NATION.

“I'll tell you what he does: He blows the –. I don't care what his name is. His name could be Johnson. It doesn't matter. This guy plays hard. He works his tail off, man. Every time I call him he's working, he's doing something. He doesn't want to be given anything because of his last name. That's why he wants to be there, that's why he wants to be there. He blew his– and he got there…” Urlacher said.

“He doesn't want anything because of his surname. He wants it because he led us.”

Urlacher said that, despite the NIL's distaste for college sports, he obviously wishes he could play this season. “As long as the NCAA doesn't get any money, I like it,” he said of the top athletes.

But the Hall of Famer made up for lost time by investing in Joey's nicotine pouches.

Joey has 36 different flavors, and Urlacher knows that “pocket space is exploding.”

“Everybody I play golf with, everybody I'm around, is always changing these bag items. I got an opportunity to invest, it was a mistake for me,” he said. They sent me the deck, and I said, 'This is like a home run.'

Linebacker Brian Urlacher No. 54 of the Chicago Bears against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on Nov. 18, 2011, Miami, Florida. The Bears beat the Dolphins 16-0. (Getty Images)

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“It's definitely safer than smoking or vaping, because they don't know the long-term effects of vaping,” he said, voicing his opinion. “But the crazy thing is that it catches on so quickly. Everyone does it. My daughter brings her friends over, and they take all three of them. I'm like, 'Wow, she does them too.' You can't tell. They are in their mouths. I'm like, 'Damn, everybody's doing this – girls, boys.' The younger generations are really big on them. But I think I notice it more when I'm playing golf and every guy on my team changes one hole every three. I'm like, 'Damn, this is big stuff.'

Although the FDA has approved nicotine patch products for sale in the US, health experts are warning of the potential side effects, especially for young people. A recent nationwide study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology also suggested that other methods of smoking cessation may increase the risk of serious eye diseases compared to completely quitting nicotine.

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