Bears’ Brian Urlacher Slams Trans Athletes in Girls’ Sports Amid Illinois Controversy

Chicago Bears legend Brian Urlacher didn’t mince words when addressing the heated debate over transgender athletes in girls’ sports, a controversy currently shaking Illinois. Speaking on the Global View podcast on May 9, the Pro Football Hall of Famer questioned why the issue is even up for discussion. It’s common sense. A woman is a woman, a man is a man—you’re born with what you’re born with, Urlacher stated, emphasizing biological differences.

The debate has hit close to home in Illinois, where a recent incident at the Naper Prairie Conference Meet saw a biological male compete in a seventh-grade girls’ track event, sparking outrage. This led to a fiery Naperville 203 Community School District Board meeting, with parents and advocates clashing over fairness and inclusion. Awake Illinois escalated the matter, filing a Title IX complaint with the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, alleging the district’s policies violate federal law. They’re pushing to withhold the district’s $8-9 million in annual federal funding.

Urlacher also pointed to a similar controversy in Minnesota, where a transgender pitcher has dominated girls’ softball, winning 14 consecutive games and earning All-State honors. If I had a daughter forced to compete against a man, I’d raise hell, he said, calling the situation unfair. He praised President Donald Trump’s February 5 executive order, Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports, as a step toward addressing the issue.

As Illinois grapples with these divisive cases, Urlacher’s stance reflects a broader societal tension: balancing inclusion with fairness in competitive sports.