Filed Under » Green Bay Packers

Longtime Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher officially retired today as a member of the Green Bay Packers, signing a one-day contract with the team to "go out a winner."

"I know this may rub some people in the Bears organization the wrong way. And some Bears fans, too, probably," said Urlacher. "But it's my right to end my career the way I want to end it, and doing it as a member of the Green Bay Packers — unquestionably the best franchise in the NFC North throughout my career and, really, all of NFC North history — brings me great joy. Not being a member of the Bears on this day is the highlight of my career."

Urlacher then fought back tears as he spoke about how much it means to him to no longer be a part of the Bears: "You dream of this your whole career but never really believe it could happen," he said, tears rolling down his cheeks.

The linebacker's press conference was attended by many Packers players in a sign of respect for all of his accomplishments.

"Brian was one of the greats," said quarterback Aaron Rodgers. "If the Bears had more players like him, they wouldn't always be so easy to beat."

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers came to practice the day after Christmas showing off a brand new football he had received as a gift.

"Check it out, guys," said Rodgers, as his teammates gathered around. "My mom got it for me. It's an official NFL ball. The same size and everything used in the NFL. But it's my very own."

Green Bay backup quarterback Graham Harrell said the football was "awesome" and that it made the junior Nerf football he had received from his parents "look lame."

Rodgers said he didn't even ask for the football or put it on his Christmas list, but it turned out to be his favorite gift.

"My mom knows how much I like football," said Rodgers. "I've played on a team for a lot of years now. I guess she just assumed I'd like a real, official ball. And she was right. I love it!"

The quarterback's mom, Sandra Rodgers, said her son's face lit up as soon as he opened tore of the wrapping paper covering the ball Christmas morning.

"He still had half of his presents to open, but he took it out of the box and immediately ran outside to throw it up in the air to himself," said Mrs. Rodgers. "He said, 'Thanks so much, mom! I love football!' It really made me happy to get him a gift he loved."

After Rodgers and his teammates threw the ball around at the team's facility on Wednesday morning, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy eventually had to ask the quarterback to put his football away so the team could start practice.

A football touchdown that shouldn't have been is in the record books. Now America will attempt to pick up the pieces and move on.

"How are parents supposed to look at their kids and say that there is justice and goodness in the world?" said Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whose team lost on a last-second pass by the Seattle Seahawks that appeared to be intercepted by Packers safety M.D. Jennings in the end zone. "There was hope. Hope for humanity. Hope for the world. But then they said Golden Tate caught a pass he really didn't."

The call pushed the Packers to 1-2, one game back in the NFC North division with only 13 games to play. Most schools and many business across the country have closed for the week to give families time to heal together and talk through what happened.

President Obama spoke to the nation from the Oval Office minutes after the game ended and urged calm.

"At times like these there are no answers," he said. "We can only rely on our faith and our sense of community and hope they can pull us through."

The president said he has already received countless calls from global leaders offering condolences and support.

"Today we are all Americans," said British prime minister David Cameron. "The refs really messed up the end of that game. It's outrageous."