Alex Brown signs 1-day contract to retire as a Bear
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LAKE FOREST, IL — After nine NFL seasons, DE Alex Brown is retiring as a Chicago Bear. Brown signed a one-day contract with Chicago today so he could retire as a member of the Bears organization.
Brown spent eight seasons in a Bears uniform after being selected by Chicago in the fourth round (104th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft out of the University of Florida. Starting 123 of 143 regular season games played, Brown recorded 522 tackles, 59 tackles for losses, 45.5 sacks, five interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries during his NFL career. His 43.5 career sacks as a member of the Bears are fourth most in franchise history (since sacks became official in 1982) and his five career interceptions rank second all-time by a Bears defensive lineman, trailing Hall of Famer Richard Dent's eight.
In 2002, Brown made an immediate impact starting nine of 15 games played for Chicago his rookie year and was honored with the Brian Piccolo Award following the season. He earned a vote for the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year after 2005 season and was named second-alternate for the 2007 Pro Bowl after being named a first-alternate for the 2006 Pro Bowl.
Brown was a durable and reliable defensive lineman, appearing in every regular season contest during his career (143-straight) starting with the second game of his rookie season. He started all 16 contests in seven of his nine NFL seasons. In five career postseason starts, including four with the Bears, Brown had 20 tackles with two sacks, three TFLs and two pass break ups. He started at right defensive end for the Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
In 2010, his final NFL season, Brown started 16 regular contests and one playoff contest for the New Orleans Saints.
Brown will be recognized on the field prior to the Bears preseason game tomorrow with the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field.
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