Derrick Brooks (born April 18, 1973 in Pensacola, Florida) plays professional football for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. Brooks, an outside linebacker, starred at Washington High School in Pensacola and later at Florida State University, where he was a four-year letterman and was first-team All-American his senior year. He was selected in the first round of the 1995 draft by Tampa Bay, as was defensive tackle Warren Sapp. Brooks and Sapp were both instrumental in turning the Buccaneers from perennial doormats into eventual Super Bowl champions (they won in 2002).

Brooks has long been considered one of the premier linebackers in the NFL, as respected off the field as he is feared on it. He has been named to the Pro Bowl eight consecutive times (every year from 1997-2004) and to the Associated Press All-Pro team six consecutive times (every year from 1999-2004). Brooks also was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press in 2002.

Brooks is well know for his charity work and his advocacy of the importance of education. He was the co-recipient of the 2000 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and he was named to the Florida State University Board of Trustees in 2003.

External links

• Derrick Brook Charities
• Derrick Brooks at NFLPlayers.com