Brian Westbrook facts for kids
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Westbrook in 2018
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| No. 36, 20 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | September 2, 1979 Fort Washington, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 203 lb (92 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Maryland) |
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| College: | Villanova (1997–2001) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2002 / Round: 3 / Pick: 91 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Brian Collins Westbrook (born September 2, 1979) is a former American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. The Philadelphia Eagles picked him in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft. Before that, he played college football for the Villanova Wildcats.
Westbrook played eight years with the Eagles. During this time, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl twice, in 2004 and 2007. After his time with the Eagles, Westbrook joined the San Francisco 49ers for the 2010 season. He later worked as a director for the XFL until it joined with the USFL to form the UFL in 2024.
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Early Life and High School
Brian Westbrook grew up in Fort Washington, Maryland. He went to DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. Brian was a great student and played both football and basketball. In football, he was a top player in his league and county. He also received honors across the state.
College Football Star
Westbrook played for the Villanova Wildcats football team from 1997 to 2001. Even with some injuries, he set an amazing record. He gained 9,512 all-purpose yards, which means yards from running, catching, and returning kicks. This was an all-time record for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
In 46 games, he scored 84 touchdowns. He ran for 4,298 yards and caught passes for 2,582 yards. He also gained 2,289 yards returning kickoffs. Brian set 41 school records, 13 conference records, and five NCAA records.
Westbrook was the only player in his college division to score over 160 points in two different seasons. He was also the first college football player ever to have 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in one season (1998). He ran for over 1,000 yards in three different seasons.
He was named an All-American and was the best offensive player in his conference twice. In 2001, he won the Walter Payton Award. This award goes to the top player in NCAA Division I-AA. Brian was honored in the Villanova University Hall of Fame in 2016. In 2023, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Playing in the NFL
Even though Brian was amazing in college, NFL teams were not sure about drafting him. They worried about his size (he was 5'8"), his past injuries, and that he didn't play for a top-tier college team. But Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid saw his talent. The Eagles picked him in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft.
Time with the Philadelphia Eagles
Westbrook played a small role in his first year, 2002. But he made a big play by throwing a touchdown pass in a game against the Dallas Cowboys. In 2003, he made a famous play. He returned a punt for a touchdown in the last minutes to beat the New York Giants. This play helped turn the Eagles' season around. They went all the way to the NFC Championship Game. Sadly, Brian missed the playoffs that year due to an injury.
In 2004, Westbrook became the main running back for the Eagles. He ran for 812 yards and led all NFL running backs with 73 catches for 703 yards. He scored nine touchdowns. His play caused many problems for opposing teams. He helped the Eagles have a great 13-3 season. In the playoffs, he played very well, helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl.
The Eagles played in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. Brian had a good game, running for 44 yards and catching seven passes for 60 yards. He also scored one touchdown. The Eagles lost, but Brian was chosen for his first Pro Bowl the next week.
In 2005, Westbrook signed a new contract with the Eagles. He had over 1,200 total yards from running and catching. However, he got a foot injury and missed the rest of the 2005 season. Many Eagles players were injured that year, and the team finished with a losing record.
Westbrook played well again in 2006. He ran for a career-high 1,217 yards. He also led the team with 77 catches for 699 receiving yards. He scored 11 touchdowns that year. In the playoffs, he ran for 141 yards against the New York Giants, including a 49-yard touchdown.
In 2007, Westbrook showed he was one of the best running backs in the league. He had over 100 combined yards (running and receiving) in 12 of his 15 games. He set a new career high with 1,333 rushing yards. His 2,104 total yards from scrimmage led the entire NFL. Brian was chosen for his second Pro Bowl and his first All-Pro team. He also set a new team record with 90 catches in one season.
In 2008, Westbrook signed a new five-year contract with the Eagles. He continued to make history. In one game, he scored three touchdowns, becoming only the seventh player in NFL history to have 30 rushing touchdowns and 25 receiving touchdowns in his career. He had another amazing game with 167 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The 2009 season was tough for Westbrook due to injuries. He suffered two concussions and missed most of the season. The Eagles released him on March 5, 2010.
Joining the San Francisco 49ers
On August 16, 2010, Westbrook signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. This happened after another running back on the team suddenly retired. Brian played in 14 games for the 49ers, starting 5 of them. He ran for 340 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also caught 16 passes for 150 yards and another touchdown.
Retirement and Beyond
Brian Westbrook announced his retirement from football on August 28, 2012. He officially retired as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles honored him at a game on December 23, 2012. After retiring, Brian became a panel member on a sports show called Eagles Post Game Live. On October 19, 2015, Westbrook was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame.
Brian Westbrook's Career Highlights
Brian Westbrook had an incredible NFL career. He played 121 regular season games, starting 90 of them. He ran the ball 1,385 times for a total of 6,335 yards and scored 41 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 442 passes for 3,940 receiving yards and scored 30 receiving touchdowns. In total, he scored 71 touchdowns in his NFL career.
In the playoffs, he played 11 games. He ran for 591 yards and scored 3 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 33 passes for 334 yards and scored 3 receiving touchdowns.
Family and Life Off the Field
Brian Westbrook has a younger brother named Byron Westbrook. Byron also played football as a defensive back. Brian's cousin, Lawrence Westbrook, played college basketball. His second cousin, Jamire Westbrook, plays football at Miami University in Ohio. It has been reported that Brian is related to NBA player Russell Westbrook, but Russell has said they are not cousins. Brian is currently a correspondent for CSN Philly, a sports network.
