Derrick Brooks facts for kids
Brooks holding the 2006 Pro Bowl MVP trophy
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||
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| Born: | April 18, 1973 Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 235 lb (107 kg) | ||||||||||||||
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| High school: | Washington (Pensacola, Florida) |
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| College: | Florida State (1991–1994) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1995 / Round: 1 / Pick: 28 | ||||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Derrick Dewan Brooks (born April 18, 1973) is a famous American football player who used to play as a linebacker. He spent his entire 14-year career in the National Football League (NFL) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brooks played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, where he was recognized as an All-American twice.
The Buccaneers picked him in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft. Brooks was chosen for the Pro Bowl 11 times and was a first-team All-Pro five times. In 2002, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and he helped his team win their first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXVII. After he stopped playing, Brooks was a co-owner and president of the Tampa Bay Storm in the Arena Football League (AFL) from 2011 to 2017. He was honored by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
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Early Life and High School Football
Derrick Brooks grew up in Pensacola, Florida. He went to Washington High School. In his final year of high school in 1991, Brooks led his team to the state playoff semifinals.
In 2007, he was named to the Florida High School Athletic Association All-Century Team. This special team recognized the top 33 players in the 100-year history of high school football in Florida.
College Career at Florida State
Brooks played college football for the Seminoles at Florida State University from 1991 to 1994. He played all four years and was a top player. He was named a first-team All-American in his junior and senior years. He was also a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) player three times.
He started as a safety in his first year. Then, he switched to playing linebacker in his second year. Brooks was a key part of the 1993 Seminoles National Championship team. He finished his college career with 274 tackles, five interceptions, and 8.5 sacks.
In November 2010, Florida State honored Brooks by retiring his Seminoles jersey number 10. This means no other player will wear that number for the team.
College Awards and Honors
- 3× First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (1992, 1993, 1994)
- ACC Defensive Player of the Year (1993)
- 2× Consensus first-team All-American (1993, 1994)
- National Champion (1993)
Professional Career with the Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose Derrick Brooks in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft. He was the 28th player picked overall. The Buccaneers traded some of their other picks to get him.
Brooks played for the Buccaneers for 14 years. Many people think he is one of the best players in the team's history. He is also considered one of the best linebackers ever in the NFL. From 1995 to 2008, Brooks started almost every game. He made 1,698 tackles, 13.5 sacks, and 25 interceptions. He also scored six touchdowns, which is tied for the most by a linebacker in NFL history.
He was chosen for the Pro Bowl 11 times. This included 10 times in a row from 1997 to 2006. He was also named an All-Pro nine times. In 2002, he won the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He led the team to their first Super Bowl win in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Key Seasons and Super Bowl Victory
As a rookie in 1995, Brooks played well and earned all-rookie honors. In 1997, he made his first trip to the Pro Bowl. He continued to play at a high level, making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams year after year. In 2000, he scored his first career touchdown by intercepting a pass and running it back 34 yards. That same year, he won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. This award is given to a player for their community service and great play on the field.
Brooks had his best season in 2002. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He helped the Buccaneers win their first Super Bowl. He also made his sixth Pro Bowl in a row. That season, he had five interceptions and returned an NFL record four touchdowns. Three of these were from interceptions, and one was from a fumble. In Super Bowl XXXVII, he intercepted a pass and ran it 44 yards for a touchdown. This play helped seal the Buccaneers' 48–21 victory over the Oakland Raiders.
Brooks continued his success, making the Pro Bowl for 10 straight years. In 2006, he was named the MVP of the Pro Bowl game. He returned an interception for a touchdown to help his team win. In his last year with the Buccaneers in 2008, he was selected to his 11th Pro Bowl. This number of Pro Bowl selections is tied for the second-most by a linebacker in NFL history.
Leaving Tampa Bay and Retirement
On February 25, 2009, the Buccaneers released Brooks. He was one of several experienced players the team let go. The team wanted to build a younger roster. Brooks never missed a game in his 14 years with Tampa Bay, playing in 224 straight games. He started 208 of those games as a weakside linebacker. This is an NFL record for that position.
After not playing in the 2009 season, Brooks officially announced his retirement on August 11, 2010. On January 10, 2014, Brooks was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On February 1, he was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He is one of only a few players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame mainly for his time as a Buccaneer.
After Football: Broadcast and Executive Roles
After his playing career, Brooks worked as a football analyst for ESPN. He also co-hosted a show on Sirius NFL Radio.
In 2011, Brooks became a part-owner and the president of the Tampa Bay Storm. This was a team in the Arena Football League. The team stopped playing in December 2017.
Since 2014, Brooks has also worked as an appeals officer for the NFL and the NFL Players Association. His job is to review punishments for players who break rules during games.
Personal Life and Charity Work
Derrick Brooks is married and has four children. He is a Christian.
Brooks is well-known for his charity work and for promoting the importance of education. He started Derrick Brooks Charities. He has taken groups of young people, known as the "Brooks Bunch," on trips across the country and even to South Africa. These trips are like "mobile classrooms" to give them new experiences. Brooks also helped start the Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School in Tampa. He did this with fellow Pro Football Hall of Fame member Edward J. DeBartolo Jr..
In 2003, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Brooks to the Florida State University Board of Trustees. This shows his continued dedication to education and community service.
Images for kids
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Derrick Brooks (right) with Justin Smith during a game in 2003.
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Derrick Brooks with Anquan Boldin in 2011.
