National Football League

Zorich pleads guilty to tax charges

Published Mar. 14, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Former Chicago Bear Chris Zorich has appeared in federal court to plead guilty to tax charges.

Zorich addressed a federal judge in Chicago on Thursday, saying he chose not to file his taxes ''in a timely fashion.''

Prosecutors say the 43-year-old faced four misdemeanor counts of not filing federal income tax returns from 2006 to 2009. Over that time, he allegedly made more than $1 million, including income from a charity he founded.

The Chicago native was on the 1988 Notre Dame team that won a national championship. He played for the Bears from 1991 to 1996, and ended his career with the Washington Redskins in 1997.

Zorich must pay $71,000 in back taxes as part of a plea agreement. He is to be sentenced July 12.