Wednesday, Aug 08, 2012 08:09 PM

Alex Brown to retire with Chicago Bears on Thursday

CHICAGO -- Former defensive end Alex Brown is officially retiring as a member of the Chicago Bears.

The team says Brown has signed a one-day contract and will be recognized in a ceremony on the field before the preseason opener against Denver on Thursday.

A fourth-round draft pick by the Bears in 2002, he played eight seasons in Chicago and was a key player on the 2006 team that reached the Super Bowl. He started every game for New Orleans in 2010 before being released and didn't play last season.

Brown had 522 tackles, 45.5 sacks and five interceptions in his career. He's fourth on the Bears' career list with 43.5 sacks. He also had five interceptions for Chicago, second only to Richard Dent (eight) among Bears linemen.