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Lance Briggs lands on IR; career with Bears could be over

Eric Edholm
Lance Briggs lands on IR; career with Bears could be over

The career of linebacker Lance Briggs with the Chicago Bears could be over after he was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury on Friday.

Briggs has had a tough season — his 13th in the NFL, all of them with the Bears — as he and the defense have struggled. Earlier this month, Briggs was transparent about his future with the team as he is set to become a free agent in the offseason.

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"I understand this is probably my last year as a Chicago Bear," Briggs said, per the Chicago Tribune, back in early November.

Briggs has battled through rib and groin injuries and hasn't been the same, impactful linebacker who was one of the best defenders, along with Brian Urlacher, that the Bears have had for the past several decades.

In his career, which started as a third-round pick in 2003, Briggs has totaled nearly 1,200 tackles, 19 forced fumbles, 16 interceptions, 15 sacks and five defensive touchdowns. Despite often playing in Urlacher's shadow nationally, Briggs' exceptional play was not lost among Bears fans.

It's likely, as the Bears stumble down the stretch at 5-7, that Briggs will not be a part of Chicago's future. He has seen it, and the team likely feels similarly.

If it's the end of an era, Briggs left quite a legacy in Chicago — even if it didn't end all that well.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!