Chicago Bears: An Urlacher Canton Nod Could Help Matt Nagy

It’s amazing to think that Brian Urlacher is one step away from adding to the Chicago Bears Hall of Fame legacy. It seemed like yesterday he was still playing.

The eight-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker hung up his cleats in 2013 following a string of leg injuries and coaching changes. At that point, it became a waiting game. Most agree it’s only a matter of time before Urlacher reaches Canton. His legacy spanning over a decade as the face of Bears football is almost unparalleled for that time period. The only way he could get held out from getting in this year would be the presence of fellow middle linebacker Ray Lewis.

Voters may balk at the idea of putting two players from the same position in at the same time. That said it’s hard to find too many other names in the current list of semifinalists who accomplished more in their careers than he did. Amazing as it sounds there may also be an added benefit was Urlacher to reach the mountaintop this year. One that could end up helping his old team to get a jumpstart on the new season.

Urlacher may put Bears in HOF game and give Nagy extra practice time

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, there’s a possibility that Urlacher entering the Hall of Fame could deliver a strong change to the Bears’ preseason schedule. Namely, it would put them in the Hall of Fame game.

"“If Brian Urlacher is voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Feb. 3, I would not be surprised if the Bears wind up in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 2 — 38 days before the first Sunday of the regular season. That would mean an earlier start to training camp.A lot of times teams will balk at playing in the game. Veteran players will be opposed to it. The benefit for the Bears wouldn’t be so much the extra game. You often see teams sit out the vast majority of their front-line players. But the chance to get in a few extra practices during camp, ahead of 30 other teams, might be of benefit to first-year coach Matt Nagy.”"

This is an interesting point. A year ago Jerry Jones was inducted and his Dallas Cowboys played the Arizona Cardinals that year. In 2015 the Steelers played the Vikings. That year both Jerome Bettis and Mick Tingelhoff were inducted. So there is definitely a precedent for the NFL to have the Bears play in the game was Urlacher to make it. Especially given they haven’t done so in 13 years.

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At this point, Nagy could use every advantage open to him. A few additional practices to help install his new offense would actually be a huge help for what will likely be a heavily overhauled roster on that side of the ball this year.