Brian Urlacher Previews ASI Show Chicago Keynote With Talk on Grit & Overcoming Obstacles
The Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker delivers hard-hitting insights from the gridiron that business pros can use to power success in their careers.
Brian Urlacher was blessed with physical gifts – size, strength, speed.
Still, it was his rock-solid character and mental toughness that transformed him from a talented young player into a Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker – and one of the most beloved Chicago Bears of all time.
In this Promo Insiders podcast with ASI Media’s Christopher Ruvo, Urlacher shares sharp insights into the outlook and strategic approach that made him a bona fide NFL legend. As he points out throughout the chat, which previews his upcoming keynote at the ASI Show Chicago (July 22 to 24), print and promotional products professionals can apply the same principles to engineer high-level success in their businesses.
“In whatever you do, you’re going to have setbacks,” Urlacher says. “It’s just a matter of how you come back from those – how you learn from them and keep getting better. That’s the key to success.”
This episode is brought to you by S&S Activewear (asi/84358).
Key Takeaways
• Grit Transforms Setbacks Into Opportunity: Brian Urlacher emphasizes that resilience is key to overcoming professional setbacks. He shares that losing his starting spot early in his career led him to switch positions – a move that ultimately helped define his legacy.
• Accountability Drives Team Success: Being dependable – especially in action – was central to Urlacher’s football career. He underscores the importance of teammates being able to trust one another, a principle that applies equally in business.
• Hard Work Yields Tangible Results: Urlacher believes consistent effort leads to improvement. Seeing results from effort becomes a motivator, reinforcing a cycle of growth. He stresses this mindset as universally applicable across sports, life and business.
• Influence of Family & Mentorship: Urlacher credits his mother, a single parent who worked three jobs, as the bedrock of his work ethic and character. He also acknowledges coaches who guided him early, reinforcing the value of mentorship.
• Purpose Beyond the Field: Postretirement, Urlacher channels his energy into philanthropy, including animal rescue. His commitment to giving back reflects a lifelong value of service and community impact.