Casey Urlacher

Casey Urlacher (born August 24, 1979) is an American politician and former football player. He has been the mayor of Mettawa, Illinois since 2013. Urlacher previously played football in the Arena Football League for two seasons for the Chicago Rush and Nashville Kats. He is the brother of former National Football League linebacker Brian Urlacher.

Casey Urlacher
No. 37
Position:Fullback / Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1979-08-27) August 27, 1979
Pasco, Washington
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:244 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:Lovington (NM)
College:Lake Forest College
Undrafted:2003
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career Arena statistics
Rush attempts:2
Rushing yards:10
Rushing TDs:0
Player stats at ArenaFan.com

Early life

Casey Urlacher was born to Brad and Lavoyda Urlacher in 1979. Following the couple’s divorce, Lavoyda moved the family to Lovington, New Mexico where she later married Troy Lenard.

During his high school years, Urlacher distinguished himself as a premier football player, helping Lovington High School record a 14-0 season. Together, Casey and his older brother, Brian, earned a prodigious reputation around Lovington. Following Brian’s graduation, Casey was promoted to captain of the football team. Also, outside of football, Urlacher ran track and played basketball and baseball.

College career

Urlacher spent his first two years of college at the New Mexico Military Institute. During his first two years, he only managed to play for one season, while redshirting the other.

In 2000, Urlacher moved in with his brother Brian in his house in Lake Bluff, Illinois, and attended Lake Forest College playing with the team for three seasons.

Professional football career

Urlacher was not selected in the 2003 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears granted him a professional try-out during their training camp in 2003, but Urlacher failed to make the final roster.[1]

The Chicago Rush arena football team signed him to play as a fullback and linebacker, but Urlacher failed to make the team's roster after training camp and was released. Upon his release, Casey signed with the Peoria Pirates of af2, then the Nashville Kats before being cut in 2005 and joining the Chicago Rush again for a short time.[2]

Civic and political career

In April 2013, Urlacher was elected Mayor of the Village of Mettawa, Illinois, having won 61% of the vote.[3] In October of that year, Urlacher was appointed by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn (D) to the Illinois' Civil Service Commission.[4] Bruce Rauner reappointed Urlacher to the Illinois Civil Service Commission on May 8, 2017.[5] He served until February 2020, when he resigned his seat.[6]

Urlacher announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination to run for State Senate in the 26th district to succeed Dan Duffy on October 1, 2015.[7] His attempt to get on the ballot was challenged, and state election officials invalidated more than 1000 of his collected signatures leaving him with only 48 above the minimum.[8] In March 2016, Urlacher was defeated in a three-way primary by Dan McConchie by over 1,300 votes.[9]

Federal indictment

Urlacher was among 10 people charged in a federal indictment alleging they ran an offshore sports gambling ring that raked in millions of dollars from hundreds of Chicago-area gamblers. He was charged with conspiracy and running an illegal gambling business. He is accused of acting as an agent for the gambling ring, recruiting bettors in exchange for a cut of their eventual losses.[10] Urlacher pleaded not guilty to the charges in March of 2020.[11] Urlacher was pardoned by President Donald Trump during his last hours in office on January 20, 2021.[12]

References
  1. Skip Wood (August 7, 2003). "Casey Urlacher's Bears gig likely to be short, but he's loving it". www.usatoday.com. USA Today.
  2. "Urlacher back with Rush". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. March 31, 2005. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  3. Ward Room Staff. "Who Won, Lost and Didn't Show Up On Election Day In Illinois". Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  4. Maxwell, Mark (12 October 2013). "Urlacher's brother named to Illinois state commission". Comcast SportsNet. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  5. Rauner, Bruce (May 9, 2017). "Appointment Message 1000175". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  6. "Casey Urlacher resigns from Illinois Civil Service Commission". Daily, local and breaking news for DeKalb County, Illinois - Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  7. Edwards, Brad. "Urlacher Brother, Now Mayor Of Northwest Suburb, Eyes State Senate Seat". CBS Chicago. CBS News. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  8. Riopell, Mike. "Brother of ex-Bear Urlacher can run for Illinois Senate, officials rule". Daily Herald. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  9. Graham, Doug (17 March 2016). "McConchie claims victory in 26th state Senate District". Daily Herald. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  10. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-casey-urlacher-sports-gambling-charges-20200220-d5bywxqudfaoxkin3dw64ys2jq-story.html
  11. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-casey-urlacher-gambling-arraignment-20200304-jgvhx2wxwjczzi4pdz7mocowsq-story.html
  12. "Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Executive Grants of Clemency". The White House. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
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