Brian Urlacher on Bears: Loyalty 'not there'

Dec 22, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Bears kick returner Devin Hester (23) runs back a kickoff during the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Since retiring after the 2012 season, former Chicago Bears linebacker and future Hall-of-Famer Brian Urlacher hasn’t been shy about criticizing his former team.

This team, he spoke out about the Bears deciding not to keep return man/wide receiver Devin Hester, who has 18 career kick and punt returns, the most in NFL history.

“You think of Devin returning all those punts and kicks as a Bear,” said Urlacher via Michael C. Wright of ESPN Chicago. “He’s going to break the record on another team, probably. It’s crazy to think he won’t be in a Bears uniform doing that. It’s frustrating as an ex-Bear and a player to see that happen.”

Urlacher went on to question the team’s loyalty.

“It’s just the loyalty factor,” he added. “It’s just not there. He should be a guy that retires as a Bear.”

Urlacher spent his entire career with the Bears.

Hester, who the Bears selected with the 57th overall pick in the 2006 draft out of Miami, was hoping to do the same.

Instead, after eight years, he will have to find a new team.

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Brian Urlacher on Bears: Loyalty ‘not there’

By Andrew Melnick | Mar 6, 2014