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Chicago Bears legend Brian Urlacher is not happy with his team’s departure from Soldier Field.
“I don’t like them to leave Soldier Field,” Urlacher told PK Press Club Digital. “I can’t imagine them playing anywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s Indiana or somewhere in Illinois, I can’t imagine them leaving Soldier Field.”
Urlacher placed blame for the planned move to Hammond, Indiana, on Democratic leaders in Chicago and Illinois. This year, Illinois lawmakers failed to pass a law providing the property tax certainty and public infrastructure funding the team needed to build a new stadium.
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Former Chicago Bears player Brian Urlacher is honored during halftime of a game between the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois on September 17, 2018. (Patrick Gorski/USA TODAY Sports)
“I just don’t see how as a state, as a legislator, as a governor, as a mayor of a city, you can let this team leave the state of Illinois, or even be a topic of discussion,” Urlacher said. “You do what it takes to keep the bears there.”
The NFL Hall of Famer is particularly bothered by the lack of legislation to keep the Bears amid the state’s sanctuary policies that provide taxpayer-funded resources to illegal immigrants.
“You look at all the money that they gave to illegal immigrants and the money that they set aside for that, it’s between $2.5 billion and $3 billion that they spent on illegal immigrants. That money could be for the Bears, it could be trying to keep them, not for the Bears, but to try to keep their stadium in town, instead of keeping people here that are not supposed to be in our country,” Urlacher said.
The state of Illinois was expected to allocate and spend between $2.5 billion and $3.2 billion on services, health care and supports for migrants and illegal immigrants from 2022 through the end of 2025, according to a report from the Illinois Public Policy Institute.
The Bears have explored options outside of their longtime home at Soldier Field, including Arlington Heights and, more recently, a possible move across state lines. Urlacher said Illinois officials should have found a way to keep the franchise from considering Indiana.
“The fans, we have some of the best fans in the world in any sport,” he said. “If I were those guys, I’d probably do what I had to do to keep them at Illinois State. Maybe not at Soldier Field, because that already wasn’t in the cards, but they had Arlington Heights planned. They already bought the land. Find a way to keep them there, and they did it – they don’t care.”
Urlacher has been particularly critical of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s handling of the situation.
“Obviously not. They’re leaving,” Urlacher said when asked if Pritzker had done enough.
Jerome Bettis of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears for a touchdown at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 11, 2005. The Steelers defeated the Bears 21-9. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Urlacher, however, understands that the team’s move makes financial sense and will benefit the organization on some fronts.
“Illinois doesn’t give them anything in taxes. They don’t give them a good deal for their stadium,” he said. “So Indiana offers them something better than what Illinois is, so why not go to the great state of Indiana?”
He added that the team’s ability to control its own stadium would be a major advantage.
“From a business standpoint, it makes sense because they’re going to make more money because they don’t own Soldier Field,” Urlacher said. “All the money they make on Sunday, some of it goes to the city, some of it goes to the Bears. What that is, I don’t know. But I think financially it would be better for them to go to Hammond.”
Urlacher knows little about the Hammond area. He had been there “several times” when he was playing. Still, he said Bears fans will follow the team.
“Wherever the Bears go, they’re going to have their fans,” Urlacher said. “Their games are going to sell out no matter what. Whether it’s Arlington Heights or Soldier Field or Hammond, they’re going to sell out no matter where they go.”
Urlacher supports President Trump and Jaxson Dart
Urlacher also spoke glowingly about President Donald Trump, saying he supports the president’s actions.
“I agree with everything President Trump does,” Urlacher said. “Everything he’s done so far has been great, so keep it up.”
When asked if Trump should try to intervene to keep the Bears in Chicago, Urlacher said he wasn’t sure the president could influence that decision.
“I don’t think he has that — I mean, he probably has all the power in the world,” Urlacher said. “He could do that if he wanted to, but I don’t know if it’s in his field or not.”
Urlacher said Trump is “smart in everything he does in business” and “a pretty good sports guy,” but added that his words might carry more weight in Indiana than in Illinois.
“He’s probably excited that they’re going to Indiana,” Urlacher said. “It’s a big state, a big red state, so from a tax standpoint, it’s going to be great for the Bears.”
Urlacher also said he was excited to watch the UFC fight at the White House.
“I love America,” Urlacher said. “I think our country is moving in the right direction. Things are getting better.”
Urlacher also spoke out about athletes being criticized for their political involvement.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart was recently criticized by liberals for introducing Trump at a rally in New York in May.
Urlacher called Dart a “great kid.”
JAXSON DART AND ABDUL CARTER MARK DIFFERENCES, BUT DON’T APOLOGIZE FOR DISPUTE WITH TRUMP
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart and President Donald Trump attend an event inside Eugene Levy Fieldhouse at Rockland Community College in Suffern, NY, May 22, 2026. Trump spoke about his economic accomplishments in the congressional district represented by Rep. Mike Lawler, who is up for re-election in the November midterm elections. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg)
“If someone asks you to introduce the president of the United States, I think you should take that opportunity and do it. I mean, he did a good job,” Urlacher said.
“He got a lot of criticism for some reason… A few years ago, someone profiled Obama, and it wasn’t a big deal for some reason, but someone does it for Trump, it’s a huge deal… The media just goes along with these things, and they make it a bigger deal than it really is.”
Urlacher said he would have introduced any president during his playing career.
“Of course I would have,” Urlacher said. “But politics wasn’t a big issue when I was playing. Nobody cared about it then. It didn’t become a big issue until 2016, when everyone was making you choose a side.”
Urlacher said he wouldn’t have cared if one of his teammates introduced former President Barack Obama.
“He’s the president of the United States,” Urlacher said. “Pursue.”
Urlacher denounces trans athletes in women’s sport
Urlacher also addressed the debate over transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports, saying he was following the issue “very closely.”
“I think men should compete with men and women should compete with women,” Urlacher said. “I don’t think it should be allowed in other sports.”
Urlacher said he wouldn’t want his daughters or future grandchildren to compete against biological males.
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“I don’t want my girls to play against men,” he said. “If I have grandchildren, I don’t want them to play men either. They should play women. We’re different. We’re built differently. That’s the way it is. That’s biology.”
Urlacher accused Democrats, including Pritzker, of siding with the progressive wing of the party on the issue.
“It’s something they’re trying to promote on the far left side of this party, and they’re really sticking to it,” Urlacher said.
Urlacher excited about future of Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson and Bears
Despite his concerns about the franchise’s stadium situation, Urlacher said he was optimistic about the Bears on the field.
He praised new head coach Ben Johnson and said the Bears’ young quarterback Caleb Williams was a major reason for enthusiasm.
“Ben Johnson has done a great job since they hired him,” Urlacher said. “I think he wanted it because of Caleb. You see why now. The kid was amazing.”
Urlacher said Williams’ growth from his freshman season to his second has been “pretty impressive,” and he thinks the quarterback will continue to improve as the Bears build around him.
Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears throws a pass against the Green Bay Packers during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois on January 10, 2026. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
“His skillset is second to none with the way he runs and the way he throws the ball,” Urlacher said. “A lot of guys can run the ball, but they don’t throw it as well, or they throw it really well, but they don’t throw it as well. He’s got both.”
Urlacher also dismissed any concerns about Williams’ appearance on the cover of Madden.
“I don’t,” Urlacher said when asked if he believes in the Madden curse. “What a great honor for him to be here.”
The American Century Championship remains a highlight of the summer
Urlacher also talked about one of his favorite annual events, the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe.
“Our summer is planned every year around this event,” Urlacher said. “Tahoe is beautiful, but the three days of competing against other guys in other sports and acting and all that stuff is also a lot of fun.”
Urlacher said the fan atmosphere at the tournament adds to the pressure.
“The golf. The competition,” Urlacher said when asked about his favorite part of the event. “Golf is hard, but if people are watching you, it gets even harder.”
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Urlacher joked that his main goal is simple: beat former MLB player Kevin Millar.
“We have a side bet,” Urlacher said. “We have a very similar handicap, so he’s the guy I want to beat.”
