Brian Urlacher blames Illinois’ immigration spending for the Bears’ departure

Chicago Bears legend Brian Urlacher is not happy about his team leaving Soldier Field.

“I don’t like them leaving Soldier Field,” Urlacher told Fox News Digital. “I can’t picture them playing anywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s in Indiana or somewhere else in Illinois, I can’t picture 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 providing guaranteed property tax and public infrastructure funding the team needs to build a new stadium.

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“I just don’t see how as a state, a legislature, a governor, a mayor, you can let this team out of the state of Illinois, or even be a topic of conversation,” Urlacher said. “Do what you have to do to keep the Bears there.”

The NFL Hall of Famer is particularly concerned about the lack of legislation to keep the Bears within the state’s sanctuary policies that provide taxpayer-funded services 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 they’ve spent on illegal immigrants. That money could be for the Bears, it could be trying to keep them, not the Bears, but they’re trying to keep their turf in the city, rather than keeping people who shouldn’t be in our country,”

The state of Illinois is expected to allocate and spend between $2.5 billion and $3.2 billion on services, health care and support for immigrants 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 of their longtime home at Soldier Field, including Arlington Heights and, most recently, a possible move across state lines. Urlacher said Illinois officials had to find a way to prevent the franchise from even considering Indiana.

“The fans, we have the best fans in the world for any sport,” he said. “If I were those guys, I’d probably do what 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 got the land already bought. Find a way to keep them there, and they have — they just don’t care.”

Urlacher was highly critical of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s handling of the situation.

“Obviously not. They’re leaving,” Urlacher said when asked if Pritzker had done enough.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Jerome Bettis runs over Chicago Bears’ Brian Urlacher for a touchdown at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Dec. 11, 2005. The Steelers beat the Bears 21-9. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Still, Urlacher understands that the team’s move makes financial sense, and will benefit the organization in certain areas.

“Illinois doesn’t give them anything in terms of taxes. They don’t give them good money for their stadium,” he said. “So Indiana gives them something better than Illinois, so why not come down to the great state of Indiana?”

He went on to say that the team’s ability to control its pitch will be of great help.

“Business-wise, it makes sense, because they’re going to make more money, because they don’t have Soldier Field,” Urlacher said. “All the money they make on Sundays, some goes to the city, some goes to the Bears. I don’t know what that divvy is. But I think financially it would be more beneficial for them to go to Hammond.”

Urlacher is familiar with the Hammond area. He had been to the casino there “a few times” when he played. However, he said that Bears fans will support the team.

Wherever the Bears go, they’re going to have 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 no matter where they go.”

Urlacher supports President Trump and Jaxson Dart

Urlacher also spoke positively of President Donald Trump, saying he supports the president’s actions.

“Whatever President Trump does, I’m going with it,” Urlacher said. “Everything he’s done so far has been great, keep it up.”

Asked if Trump should try to intervene to keep the Bears in Chicago, Urlacher said he’s not sure if that’s something the president would have.

“I don’t think he has that — I mean, he might have all the power in the world,” Urlacher said. “He can do that if he wants to, but I don’t know if that’s in his place or not.”

Urlacher said Trump is “smart about everything he does business wise” and “a guy who knows the game well,” but added that his words may carry more weight in Indiana than in Illinois.

“He’s probably excited that they’re going to Indiana,” Urlacher said. “It’s a good country, a big red country, so tax-wise it’s going to be good for the Bears.”

Urlacher also said he was excited to attend a UFC fight at the White House.

“I love America,” Urlacher said. “I think our country is moving in the right direction. Things are being fixed.”

Urlacher also criticized athletes who face 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 a “pretty good kid.”

JAXSON DART AND ABDUL CARTER HAVE DIFFERENCES, BUT NOT APOLOGIES IN TRUMP TIME

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 congressional district represented by Rep. Mike Lawler, who will be up for re-election in the November midterm elections. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg)

“When somebody asks you to introduce the President of the United States, I think you should take, um, that opportunity and do it. I mean, you did a good 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 did it for Trump, it’s a big deal… The media just runs with these things, and makes it a bigger deal than it is.”

Urlacher said he would have introduced any president while playing.

“Hey yeah, I would,” Urlacher said. “But politics wasn’t a big thing when I was playing. Nobody cared then. It didn’t become a big thing until 2016 when everyone made you choose a side.”

Urlacher said he wouldn’t mind if one of his colleagues 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 about transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports, saying she has followed the issue closely.

“I think men should compete with men and women should compete with women,” said Urlacher. “I don’t think both should be allowed in other sports.”

Urlacher said she would not want her daughters or future grandchildren to compete with natural men.

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“I don’t want my daughters to play with men,” he said. “If I have grandchildren, I don’t want them to compete with men, they have to play with women. We are different and built differently, that’s just how biology is.”

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 left side of that party, and they’re sticking to it,” Urlacher said.

Urlacher is excited about the future of Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson and the Bears

Although he is concerned about the state of the franchise’s field, Urlacher said he is optimistic about the Bears on the field.

He praised new coach Ben Johnson and said the Bears’ young player, Caleb Williams, is a big reason to be happy.

“Ben Johnson has done a great job since they hired him,” Urlacher said. “I think he wanted it because of Caleb. You can see now why. The kid was unbelievable.”

Urlacher said Williams’ growth from his freshman to sophomore season has been “remarkable,” 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 Jan. 10, 2026. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

“His ability is not the same as the way he runs and throws the ball,” said Urlacher. “A lot of guys can run the ball, but they don’t throw it well, or they throw it well, but they don’t run it. He has both.”

Urlacher also dismissed any concerns about Williams appearing on the Madden page.

“I don’t want to,” Urlacher said when asked if he believed 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 discussed one of his favorite annual events, the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe.

“Our summer is organized around this event every year,” Urlacher said. “Tahoe is great, but three days of competing against other guys in other sports and acting and all that stuff is really exciting.”

Urlacher said the state of the fans of the tournament adds to the pressure.

“Golf. The competition,” Urlacher said when asked about his favorite part of the event. “Golf is tough, but you get people watching, it gets tougher.”

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Urlacher joked that his ultimate goal is simple: beat former MLB player Kevin Millar.

“We have a side bet,” Urlacher said. “We’re very similar in terms of handicap, so he’s the guy I want to beat.”