Ex-Chicago Bear Arrested, Chris Zorich: Former Notre Dame Standout Faces Tax Charges, Pleads Guilty in Tax Evasion Case

Ex-Chicago Bear and Former Notre Dame All-American Chris Zorich was arrested on Thursday on charges of failure to file income taxes. Zorich's attorney said the former NFL defensive tackle would plead guilty. 

43-year-old Zorich is accused of not filing his returns from 2006 to 2009, which amounts to four misdemeanor counts of tax evasion. Zorich reportedly made over $1 million over that time period.

Zorich could receive up to four years in prison and $400,000 in fines. Zorich's attorney Matthias Lydon says he does not wish for his client to spend any time in prison, but added that it would be up to a judge to decide.

Zorich has been cooperating with the Internal Revenue Service his attorney reports. A hearing date has not yet been set.

Zorich, a Chicago native, was a part of the 1988 National Champion Notre Dame football team and played defensive tackle for the Bears from 1991 to 1996. He spent his last season in 1997 in a Washington Redskins uniform.

After leaving football, Zorich received his law degree from his alma mater in 2002. Zorich worked at a Chicago law firm for several years before moving on to work for Notre Dame from 2008-2010.

Zorich started a charity in 1993 to give scholarships to disadvantaged Chicagoland youths and ND students. The foundation lost its status in 2004 after failing to register with the state of Illinois.

However, Zorich allegedly failed to report the income he continued to  receive from the foundation as well as residual pay from the Chicago Bears organization.

According to his attorney, Zorich is eager to put all this behind him.