(670 The Score) Legendary Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher on Thursday expressed support for Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois who’s in custody on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide during an attack Tuesday that left two dead amid protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
On Instagram, Urlacher liked a post from another user that read “FREE KYLE RITTENHOUSE!!!! Patriot Live Matter!!!”
Urlacher also made his own post that mocked NBA players for refusing to play their playoff games Wednesday in protest of the shooting of Blake and racial injustice. Urlacher called out the NBA for not playing, noting that Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre had one of the best performances of his career back in 2003 while “playing in the face of adversity” shortly after his father died.
Mark Lazerus of the Athletic Chicago captured Urlacher’s post.
Urlacher immediately received widespread criticism on social media for his support of Rittenhouse and his post mocking NBA players.
Urlacher spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Bears, for whom he played from 2000 to 2012. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.