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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 Pakinomist 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 blamed Democratic leaders in Chicago and Illinois for the planned move to Hammond, Indiana. This year, Illinois lawmakers failed to pass legislation that would have secured property tax and public infrastructure funding for the team 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, Ill., on Sept. 17, 2018. (Patrick Gorski/USA TODAY Sports)
“I just don’t see how you as a state, legislature, governor, city mayor can let this team 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 bothered by the lack of legislation to keep the Bears in the midst of state sanctuary policies that offer taxpayer-funded resources to illegal immigrants.
“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 that they’ve spent on the illegal immigrants. That money could be for the Bears, could be to try to keep them, not for the Bears, but to try to keep their stadium in the city, instead of keeping our people in this country,” Urlacher told Our Country.
The state of Illinois was expected 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 to the end of 2025, according to a report by 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 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’ve already bought the land. Find a way to keep them there, and they have — they just don’t care.”
Urlacher was particularly critical of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s handling of the situation.
“Of course 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, Pa., on December 11, 2005. The Steelers defeated the Bears 21-9. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Still, Urlacher understands the team’s move makes sense financially and will benefit the organization on certain fronts.
“Illinois is not giving them anything fiscally. They are not giving them a good deal on their stadium,” he said. “So Indiana offers them something better than what Illinois is, so why not go down to the great state of Indiana?”
He added that the team’s ability to control its own stadium would be a big advantage.
“Business-wise, it makes sense because they’re going to make more money because they don’t own Soldier Field,” Urlacher said. “All the money that they make on Sundays, some of it goes to the city, some of it goes to the Bears. What that divvy is, I don’t know. But I think financially it would be more beneficial for them to go to Hammond.”
Urlacher is only slightly familiar with the Hammond area. He had been to the casino there “a few times” when he gambled. Still, he said Bears fans will follow the team.
“Anywhere the Bears go, they want their fans,” Urlacher said. “Their games are going to sell out no matter what. If it’s in Arlington Heights, Soldier Field or Hammond, they’re going to sell out wherever they go.”
Urlacher supports President Trump and Jaxson Dart
Urlacher also spoke glowingly of President Donald Trump, saying he supports the president’s actions.
“Everything President Trump does, I’m on board with,” Urlacher said. “Everything he’s done so far has been great, so just keep it up.”
When asked if Trump should try to intervene to keep the Bears in Chicago, Urlacher said he was unsure if it was something the president could influence.
“I don’t think he has — I mean, he probably has all the power in the world,” Urlacher said. “He could do it if he wanted to, but I don’t know if it’s in his realm or not.”
Urlacher said Trump is “smart about everything he does business-wise” and “a pretty sports-savvy guy,” but added that his words may carry more weight in Indiana than Illinois.
“He’s probably excited about them going to Indiana,” Urlacher said. “It’s a great state, 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 being cleaned up.”
Urlacher also weighed in on athletes facing criticism for 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 COMB OVER DIFFERENCES, BUT OWN APOLOGY FOR TRUMP FIGHT
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart and President Donald Trump attend an event inside the Eugene Levy Fieldhouse at Rockland Community College in Suffern, NY, May 22, 2026. Trump spoke about his economic achievements in the upstart congressional district represented by Rep. Mike Lawler, who is up for election in the midterm elections in November. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg)
“If somebody asks you to introduce the president of the United States, I think you should take that opportunity and do it. I think he did a great job,” Urlacher said.
“He got a lot of heat for some reason…a few years ago somebody introduced Obama and it wasn’t a big deal for some reason, but somebody does it for Trump, it’s a huge deal…The media just runs with these things and they make them a bigger deal than they are.”
Urlacher said he would have introduced any president during his career.
“Hell, yes, I would,” Urlacher said. “But politics wasn’t a big deal when I was playing. Nobody cared back then. It didn’t become a big deal until 2016 when everybody made you pick a side.”
Urlacher said he wouldn’t have minded if one of his teammates introduced former President Barack Obama.
“He’s the president of the United States,” Urlacher said. “Go ahead.”
Urlacher speaks out against trans athletes in girls’ sports
Urlacher also addressed the debate over transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports, saying he has been following the issue “very closely.”
“I think men should compete against men and women should compete against women,” Urlacher said. “I don’t think it should be allowed in the other sports either.”
Urlacher said he did not want his daughters or future grandchildren to compete against biological males.
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“I don’t want my daughters playing against men,” he said. “If I have grandchildren, I don’t want them competing against men either. They have to play against women. We’re different. We’re built differently. That’s just the way it is. It’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 push on the far left of that party, and they’re really sticking to it,” Urlacher said.
Urlacher is excited about Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson and the Bears’ future
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 the Bears’ young quarterback, Caleb Williams, is a major reason for excitement.
“Ben Johnson has done a great job since they hired him,” Urlacher said. “I think he wanted it because of Caleb. You can see why now. The kid has been incredible.”
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 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 skill set is kind of unmatched with the way he runs, the way he throws the football,” Urlacher said. “A lot of guys can run the ball but they don’t throw it very well, or they throw it really well but don’t run it as well. He’s got both.”
Urlacher also dismissed any concerns about Williams appearing 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 there.”
The American Century Championship remains a summer highlight
Urlacher also discussed one of his favorite annual events, the American Century Championship golf tournament in Lake Tahoe.
“Our summer is planned around this event every year,” Urlacher said. “Tahoe is beautiful, but the three days of competing against other guys in other sports and acting and all that 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 about his favorite part of the event. “Golf is hard, but you get people to see you, it becomes 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’re very similar in handicap so he’s the guy I want to beat.”
