Bears snubbed in ESPN’s ranking of Top 25 players since 2000

ESPN released its list of the Top 25 NFL players since 2000, which was predictably dominated by quarterbacks. Six QBs made the list. Pass-catchers (tight ends and wide receivers) had five.

The NFL is an offense-driven league, and that’s proved by nearly half of the 25 best players being quarterbacks or skill players.

What was surprising to see, however, was that no Chicago Bears made the cut. Not even an Honorable Mention. The only recognition for any Bears player was when Kalyn Kahler said Brian Urlacher was snubbed.

“Chicago’s Hall of Fame linebacker was the most important player on the Bears for much of his 12-year career. Chicago didn’t win that 2006 Super Bowl, but it was there because of its Urlacher-led defense, which compensated for quarterback Rex Grossman’s 20 interceptions that season. Urlacher finished in the top five in DPOY voting four times, winning once.”

I have to agree with Kalyn. Urlacher was the captain of one of the best defenses of the 2000s and willed the Bears to a Super Bowl berth despite a horrendous offense dragging the team down. He was a four-time All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler, Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year. Fittingly, his storied career ended with an induction into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

It seems like a glaring omission to leave Urlacher off this list.

Screw it almost 10 mins of Brian Urlacher to start your Monday.

Warning, you will want to tackle the next person you see if you watch this clip. pic.twitter.com/FtlYgTHKfd

— Bears Nation (@BearsNationCHI) April 17, 2023

On the other hand, I get it. The NFL is an offensive league now more than ever, and there have been some incredible skill players in recent years. The Bears, sadly, have not experienced anything like that. Their best receiver since 2000 was probably the good-not-great Brandon Marshall, and for Chicago’s best quarterback, you probably have to default to Jay Cutler.

However, the winds of change are blowing in the Windy City. After drafting Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, Bears fans are hopeful that the team finally has a dominant QB-WR pairing for the first time in decades. If all goes well, then the next time a list like this comes out of ESPN, both players will be featured.