LAKE FOREST, IL — Chicago BearsPro Bowl weak-side linebacker Lance Briggs agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Bears for the 2007 franchise tender amount today.
A veteran of four NFL seasons, Briggs was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl following the 2006 campaign in which he recorded a career-high 176 tackles with 117 solo tackles and 10 tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions, nine pass break-ups, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. After starting all 16 games for the third consecutive season, the 2006 second-team AP All Pro has started 61 of 64 career games played.
Selected in the third round by Chicago with the 68th overall selection of the 2003 NFL Draft, Briggs led the Bears in 2004 with 168 total tackles and 10 tackles for loss in his first season playing weak-side linebacker. The Sacramento, California native started all 16 games for the first time in his career that year, leading the squad in tackles in eight contests while establishing a single-game career-high with 17 tackles in one game. Briggs was a second alternate for the Pro Bowl following the 2004 season. In 2005, Briggs was named to his first Pro Bowl after registering 170 tackles while establishing career-highs with two sacks, two interceptions and 13 pass break-ups to help him earn consensus first-team All Pro honors.
Briggs started 13 of 16 games at strong-side linebacker as a rookie, finishing the season tied for fourth on Chicago with 81 tackles. Making his first career start on Oct. 5, 2003 at Soldier Field in a win vs. Oakland, Briggs' 61 consecutive regular season starts rank as the third-longest current streak on the team.
