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THE DETERMINATION

Born in rural Washington and later raised in New Mexico, Brian owes much of who he is to his humble beginnings. His parents worked hard to provide for both him and his brother, and the memories of his parents leaving for work before the sun rose and returning only after it set have remained with him always, serving as the roots for his well-renowned work ethic.

Despite his excellence on the high school football fields of New Mexico, Brian wasn’t offered a scholarship by the university he hoped to attend. Never one to get discouraged, Brian enrolled elsewhere and proved those who’d overlooked him wrong, eventually earning All-America honors and going on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Bears, where he left behind a legacy of outstanding achievement and leadership when he retired in 2012.

While those who know Brian only through the lens of football are familiar with his intensity, competitiveness, and leadership skills, those who know him off the field describe another side to the Hall of Famer—a devoted family man who is fun-loving and humble, with a wide array of interests and hobbies. While Brian remains proud of his on-field achievements, it’s the relationships he has with his former teammates, friends, and, most importantly, his family, that make him proudest.

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Team Up with Brian

    Whatever It Takes

    From a young age, Brian learned the importance of hard work and determination in achieving his goals. As a teenager, he faced a major hurdle when trying to start a landscaping business—he didn’t have a car to transport his equipment to job sites. But Brian didn’t let this stand in his way. Determined to build a successful business, he accepted every job that came his way, regardless of how far he had to travel, and pushed his mower all over town while lugging heavy cans of gas along the way! It’s this persistence and commitment to prevailing that Brian credits for his success in every venture he pursues.

    Back In College

    It’s hard to imagine now that Brian was not one of the most in-demand high school football players in his class. In fact, despite the many accolades he earned playing high school football in New Mexico, the university he hoped to attend didn’t even offer him a scholarship. Never one to get discouraged, Brian shifted his sights to the University of New Mexico, hoping to make an impact on the program right away. But during his first two years, Brian found himself with limitedopportunities to get on the field and show what he knew himself to be capable of. That all changed when Rocky Long was named the head coach and unleashed Brian, featuring his star player’s versatility in the team’s new defensive schemes and helping him to garner national acclaim for his exploits. As a Senior, Brian was named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and earned All-America honors before being drafted with the ninth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draftby the Chicago Bears and joining the legions of the game’s great linebackers.

    Becoming a Lobo

    After starring on both sides of the field and leading his high school to the New Mexico Division 3A state championship in football, it wasn’t much of a stretch for Brian to think he would get a scholarship offer from nearby Texas Tech. His heart set on playing for the Red Raiders, he attended summer football camps in Lubbock, even earning camp MVP, and hoped those showings would earn him a spot on the program’s list of target recruits. But the offer he hoped to receive never came. In fact, the only offer that did come was from the University of New Mexico, located over 9 hours away. The way Brian saw it, there was only one thing to do- keep moving forward in pursuit of his dream- and so he accepted the offer to UNM, where he went on to have his jersey retired and become a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

    PARENTS.

    Brian’s parents played a defining role in his life, instilling in him the work ethic for which he was so often praised and inspiring him to be the best football player he could be. “To this day, the most vivid memory I have of my parents was watching them leave for work at the crack of dawn every day and return after the sky was already dark. That taught me about hard work, and it also motivated me to find another way to make a living for myself and to support my family.

    FAMILY.

    Every day, Brian is inspired by those he holds closest—his wife and children. Their love motivates him to be the best person he can be, and he never stops trying to make them proud. “There is nothing I love more than being with my family, and above all else, I want to be known as a great father.”

    COACHES.

    For many athletes, coaches can be influential, but for some, like Brian, they can be something even more. Throughout his career, Brian’s coaches encouraged him, taught him, and placed their trust in him, enabling him to become the player he was and the person he is. “I was very fortunate to play for some great men, who taught me to be successful on the field, and, more importantly, off the field.