The NFL announced on Saturday an eight-player class voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, set to be enshrined in August in Canton, Ohio.
While former Seattle Seahawks players Steve Hutchinson and Kevin Mawae came up short in this year’s vote, one player with Pacific Northwest ties got the call of a lifetime.
Brian Urlacher, born in Pasco, Washington, made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Joining Urlacher in the 2018 modern-era class were fellow linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Brian Dawkins, wide receiver Randy Moss, and wide receiver Terrell Owens. Owens finished his NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks in the 2012 preseason before being cut at the end of training camp.
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The five modern-era inductees joined personnel executive Bobby Beathard and senior nominees Jerry Kramer and Robert Brazile to round out the eight-man class.
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Urlacher spent all 13 of his NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears, and was named to the pro bowl eight times.
A first round pick in the 2000 NFL draft out of New Mexico University, Urlacher moved to New Mexico in first grade and played high school football at Lovington High School, but has spoken about his Pasco roots in the past.
"I like Pasco," Urlacher told the Seattle PI in 2006. "It's where I was born. I come back every once in a while. There's so much to do there, hunting and fishing. I just like it. It's so easygoing. I'm sure my relatives will be there a long time."
Urlacher ultimately ended his career trying to chase down then-rookie quarterback Russell Wilson in a 2012 game against the Seattle Seahawks. On a 3rd-and-2 play in overtime, Russell Wilson scrambled for five yards before being brought down by Urlacher. The Bears would go on to lose the game to the Seahawks, and Urlacher to a hamstring injury.
The next year, Urlacher spoke of the play and gave a playful jab to Russell Wilson in an interview, saying, "Russell, I'm not sure if you know this or not, but you ended my career basically last year on that third down in overtime....You were rolling out, I was trying to chase you. Trying to chase you down I popped my hamstring and missed the last four games of the season. You ended it."
The Hall of Fame Class will be enshrined on Saturday August 4, 2018 in Canton Ohio.