It looks like Lance Briggs will not wear another uniform in the NFL.
The seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker for the Bears plans to retire, he said Wednesday afternoon during CSN Chicago's broadcast of the Reds-Cubs game at Wrigley Field.
Briggs said he expects to submit paperwork to the NFL making his retirement official soon, perhaps in the next week.
Briggs, a third-round draft pick in 2003, played 12 seasons for the Bears and was a central performer on some of the best defenses in the league during his prime. He's going to stay around the Bears and remain a part of CSN's coverage of the team after doing an often candid show during his playing days with Pat Boyle.
Briggs, 34, visited the 49ers in March as a free agent, but the team signed a handful of other linebackers. No other firm offers materialized for Briggs, who told the Tribune during the week of Super Bowl XLIX in Phoenix that he hoped to continue playing. He was even open to a switch to the 3-4 for coach John Fox's staff, but the Bears never pursued him.
"Outside of freak injuries, I've been durable," Briggs said. "I want to play. At this point in my career, I understand a whole lot."
Briggs was limited to eight games last season as he missed three after he was speared in the ribs playing the Panthers and five more with a pulled groin muscle at the end of the season.
In the first 10 seasons of his career, from 2003 to 2012, Briggs missed only four games. He had a career-high 130 tackles during the Super Bowl season of 2006. Briggs had 15 sacks in his career, 16 interceptions and he scored five touchdowns.
The seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker for the Bears plans to retire, he said Wednesday afternoon during CSN Chicago's broadcast of the Reds-Cubs game at Wrigley Field.
Briggs said he expects to submit paperwork to the NFL making his retirement official soon, perhaps in the next week.
Briggs, a third-round draft pick in 2003, played 12 seasons for the Bears and was a central performer on some of the best defenses in the league during his prime. He's going to stay around the Bears and remain a part of CSN's coverage of the team after doing an often candid show during his playing days with Pat Boyle.
Briggs, 34, visited the 49ers in March as a free agent, but the team signed a handful of other linebackers. No other firm offers materialized for Briggs, who told the Tribune during the week of Super Bowl XLIX in Phoenix that he hoped to continue playing. He was even open to a switch to the 3-4 for coach John Fox's staff, but the Bears never pursued him.
"Outside of freak injuries, I've been durable," Briggs said. "I want to play. At this point in my career, I understand a whole lot."
Briggs was limited to eight games last season as he missed three after he was speared in the ribs playing the Panthers and five more with a pulled groin muscle at the end of the season.
In the first 10 seasons of his career, from 2003 to 2012, Briggs missed only four games. He had a career-high 130 tackles during the Super Bowl season of 2006. Briggs had 15 sacks in his career, 16 interceptions and he scored five touchdowns.
