Lance Briggs Lance Marell Briggs ( born November 12 , 1980 ) is an American football linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for the University of Arizona , and was drafted by the Bears in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft . Early years . A Sacramento , California native , Briggs attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove , California . He was a two - time first - team All - Pac - 10 Conference selection as a linebacker at the University of Arizona . Briggs finished his college career with 308 tackles , 10 . 5 sacks , 36 tackles for losses , three interception s , 10 passes deflected , five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 33 games at strong side linebacker . Professional career . Chicago Bears . Briggs was a third round draft pick ( 68th overall ) by the Chicago Bears in the 2003 NFL Draft . In 2004 , he made 126 tackles and was elected as a second alternate to the Pro Bowl . In 2005 , Briggs was selected to represent the National Football Conference in the 2006 Pro Bowl . However , Briggs drew controversy when he refused to attend the Bears ' summer camp , resulting in a temporary demotion . He finished the 2006 Chicago Bears season as a clutch performer on the Bears ' defense . Briggs was selected to play in the 2007 Pro Bowl , but opted to defer the invitation because of an injured foot . He became a free agent following the 2007 playoffs , leaving his future with the Bears in the air . Despite Briggs ’ high price tag , commentary from NFL on Fox revealed Brian Urlacher was willing to take a pay - cut in order to keep Briggs on the team . On February 16 , 2007 , the Bears officially placed the franchise tag on him , which guarantees him a one - year contract for the 2007 NFL season at slightly more than $ 7 . 2 million dollars . On the morning of March 3 , 2007 , Briggs was featured on the " Mike North Morning Show " , and stated he was upset with the amount of money he was currently earning . Briggs later stated he enjoys his teammates , coaches and fans , but was fed up with the organization . He later went on to state he no longer wanted to be a Bear , and demanded a trade . Briggs also made his unhappiness known in a March 2007 interview with a Chicago radio station in which he said " I ' ll do everything that ' s within my power to not be with this organization . " On March 12 , 2007 Briggs announced he no longer considers himself a member of the Chicago Bears . During a cell phone interview with Foxsports . com Briggs said " I am now prepared to sit out the year if the Bears don ' t trade me or release me , I ' ve played my last snap for them . I ' ll never play another down for Chicago again . " In explaining his demands , he said " The Bears have shown I ' m not in their long - term plans so if that ' s the case , I don ' t want to be here . " A report from Fox Sports on March 27 claimed that the Washington Redskins allegedly offered the Bears their first round pick in exchange for Briggs and the Bears ' own first round pick . On March 28 , Bears general manager Jerry Angelo confirmed that the Redskins have made a trade offer and stated , " We ' ll evaluate if that ' s good for us and get back to them " . Angelo deferred the offer on April 3 , but later stated they were interested in negotiating a deal the following day . The Bears then proposed a trade with the Redskins which included linebacker Rocky McIntosh as well as the Redskins first - round pick in exchange for Briggs . Briggs did not attend the team ' s first meeting after their Super Bowl XLI loss , or their mandatory mini camp session in May 2007 . Despite this , on March 1 , 2008 , the Bears re - signed Briggs to a six - year , $ 36 million contract ; he remained a Chicago Bear . On September 2 , 2011 Briggs and his agent , Drew Rosenhaus , formally asked the Bears organization for a trade , with three years left on his six - year contract . The request came after Briggs asked the Bears for a raise . Briggs made the 2012 Pro Bowl team , but was unable to play due to an ankle injury . On April 11 , 2012 , Briggs was given a one - year extension , increasing his contract through 2014 .