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Chicago Bears legend Brian Urlacher is not happy about his team leaving Soldier Field.
“I don’t like them leaving Soldier Field,” Urlacher told Pak Gazette Digital. “I can’t picture them playing anywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s Indiana or somewhere in Illinois, I can’t picture them leaving Soldier Field.”
Urlacher blamed Democratic leaders in Chicago and Illinois for the planned relocation to Hammond, Indiana. This year, Illinois lawmakers failed to pass legislation that would provide 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 city mayor, this team can be allowed to leave the state of Illinois, or even be a topic of discussion,” Urlacher said. “You do what you have to do to keep the Bears there.”
The NFL Hall of Famer is particularly upset by the lack of legislation to keep the Bears amid the state’s sanctuary policies that offer taxpayer-funded resources to illegal immigrants.
“If you look at all the money they’ve given to illegal immigrants and the money they’ve set aside for that, it’s like $2.5, $3 billion they’ve spent on illegal immigrants. That money could be for the Bears, it could be to try to keep them, not the Bears, but to try to keep their stadium in the city, instead of keeping people here who aren’t supposed to be in our country,” Urlacher said.
The state of Illinois was projected to allocate and spend between $2.5 billion and $3.2 billion on services, health care and support for migrants and illegal immigrants from 2022 through the end of 2025, according to a report by the Illinois Public Policy Institute.
The Bears have explored options outside their former 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 prevent the franchise from even considering Indiana.
“The fans, we have some of the best fans in the world for any sport,” he said. “If I were those guys, I’d probably do whatever I had to do to keep them in the state of Illinois. Maybe not at Soldier Field, because that was already off the table, but they had Arlington Heights planned. They already bought the land. Find a way to keep them there, and they have, they just don’t care.”
Urlacher was especially 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 runs over Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears for a touchdown at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on December 11, 2005. The Steelers defeated the Bears 21-9. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Still, Urlacher understands that relocating the team makes sense financially and will benefit the organization on certain fronts.
“Illinois is not giving them anything in terms of taxes. They are not giving them a good deal for their stadium,” he said. “So Indiana offers them something better than Illinois, 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 big 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 Sundays, some of it goes to the city, some of it goes to the Bears. I don’t know what that split is. But I think financially it would be more beneficial for them to go to Hammond.”
Urlacher only partially knows the Hammond area. He had been to the casino “a couple of times” when he was gambling. Still, he said Bears fans would follow the team.
“Wherever the Bears go, they’ll have their fans,” Urlacher said. “Their games are going to sell out no matter what. Whether it’s Arlington Heights, Soldier Field or Hammond, they’re going to sell out no matter where they go.”
Urlacher endorses President Trump and Jaxson Dart
Urlacher also spoke glowingly about President Donald Trump and said he supports the president’s actions.
“I agree with anything President Trump does,” Urlacher said. “Everything you’ve done so far has been fantastic, so keep up the good work.”
When asked if Trump should try to intervene to keep the Bears in Chicago, Urlacher said he wasn’t sure if that was something the president could influence.
“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 that’s in his purview or not.”
Urlacher said Trump is “smart in everything he does business-wise” and “a very knowledgeable sports guy,” but added that his words may carry more weight in Indiana than in Illinois.
“He’s probably excited for them to go to Indiana,” Urlacher said. “It’s a big state, a big red state, so fiscally it’s going to be great for the Bears.”
Urlacher also said he was excited to attend the UFC fight at the White House.
“I love America,” Urlacher said. “I think our country is going in the right direction. Things are cleaning up.”
Urlacher also weighed in on athletes facing criticism 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 an “amazing kid.”
JAXSON DART AND ABDUL CARTER EMBRACE DIFFERENCES, BUT NEITHER APOLOGIZE FOR TRUMP DISPUTE
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart and President Donald Trump attend an event inside Eugene Levy Fieldhouse at Rockland Community College in Suffern, NY on May 22, 2026. Trump spoke about his economic achievements in the congressional district represented by Rep. Mike Lawler, who is running 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 have to take that opportunity and do it. I mean, he did a good job,” Urlacher said.
“He got a lot of pressure for some reason… A few years ago someone ran Obama, and it wasn’t a big deal for some reason, but someone does it for Trump, it’s a big deal… The media just puts these things out there, and makes them bigger than they are.”
Urlacher said he would have introduced any president during his playing career.
“Hell yeah, I would have,” Urlacher said. “But politics wasn’t a big deal when I played. Nobody cared then. It didn’t become a big deal until 2016, when everyone made you choose a side.”
Urlacher said he wouldn’t have minded if one of his teammates introduced former President Barack Obama.
“He is the president of the United States,” Urlacher said. “Forward.”
Urlacher speaks out against trans athletes in women’s sports
Urlacher also addressed the debate over transgender athletes in women’s and girls’ sports, saying he has followed the issue “very closely.”
“I think men should compete against men and women should compete against women,” Urlacher said. “I don’t think that should be allowed in other sports.”
Urlacher said she wouldn’t want her daughters or future grandchildren competing against biological men.
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“I don’t want my daughters to play against men,” she said. “If I have grandchildren, I don’t want them to compete against men either. They should play against women. We are different. We are built differently. That’s the way it is. That’s biology.”
Urlacher accused Democrats, including Pritzker, of siding with the party’s progressive wing on the issue.
“That’s something they’re trying to push on the far-left side of that party, and they’re really sticking with it,” Urlacher said.
Urlacher excited about the future of Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson and the Bears
Despite his concerns about the franchise’s stadium situation, Urlacher said he is optimistic about the Bears on the field.
He praised new head coach Ben Johnson and said young Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is a big reason for excitement.
“Ben Johnson has done a great job since he was hired,” Urlacher said. “I think he wanted it for Caleb. You see why. The guy’s been amazing.”
Urlacher said Williams’ growth from his first season to his second has been “pretty amazing” and he believes the quarterback will continue to improve as the Bears develop 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 skills are unmatched in 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 very well, but they don’t run it as well. He has both.”
Urlacher also dismissed any concerns about Williams appearing on the Madden cover.
“I don’t believe it,” Urlacher said when asked if he believes in the Madden curse. “What a great honor for him to be there.”
The American Century Championship remains the 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 scheduled every year around this event,” Urlacher said. “Tahoe is beautiful, but the three days of competition playing against other guys in other sports and performing and all that stuff is also a lot of fun.”
Urlacher said the tournament’s fan atmosphere adds to the pressure.
“The golf. The competition,” Urlacher said when asked what his favorite part of the event was. “Golf is difficult, but if people look at you, it becomes even more difficult.”
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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’re very similar in handicap, so he’s the guy I want to beat.”
