Robert Brooks
Encyclopedia
Robert Darren Brooks (born June 23, 1970 in Greenwood, South Carolina
) is a former American football
wide receiver
who attended University of South Carolina
and played for the Green Bay Packers
(1992–1998) and the Denver Broncos
.
(1988–1991). He was a fan favorite throughout his college career, Brooks was known for his fluid running and sure hands. He was a Freshman All-American in 1988.
Originally recruited as a running back, Brooks took to the field at Wide receiver wearing the jersey number 49 for the Gamecocks. During the 1988 season; Brooks,then a freshmen, made an exceptional over the shoulder one handed catch for a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs.
. That year, he led the Packers with 102 receptions and 13 touchdowns, while racking up 1,497 receiving yards, a franchise record [1]. During the 1995 season, Brooks caught a 99-yard pass play from Brett Favre
during a Monday Night Football
game against the Chicago Bears
September 11th, 1995. This reception currently ties the records for longest pass play from scrimmage with eleven other receivers.
Brooks suffered a severe knee injury in week 7 of the 1996 season against the San Francisco 49ers. Niners cornerback Tyronne Drakeford
pulled Brooks to the turf while he was blocking downfield. Brooks suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament
and a torn patellar tendon on the play. He missed the remainder of the season, and was unable to play in Super Bowl XXXI
. The Packers beat the New England Patriots
35-21. Brooks vowed to return the next season, and in 1997 he won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, catching 60 passes for 1,010 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Brooks later developed back problems as he was forced to change his running mechanics. He suffered through a painful season in 1998, and briefly retired before attempting a comeback with the Broncos in 2000. Following the season, in which he appeared in only a handful of games, Brooks again retired from the NFL. At the time of his retirement, Brooks finished with 309 receptions, 4,276 yards, and 32 touchdowns.
Brooks is now married and the father of three children — Robert, Elisha and Austin — residing in the Phoenix, AZ area. He has become the minister of Trendsetters Church at RBM Center in Phoenix.
Greenwood, South Carolina
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Greenwood County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 22,071 at the 2000 census and had slightly increased to 22,710 according to a 2009 estimate.-Geography:...
) is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who attended University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
and played for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
(1992–1998) and the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early life
Brooks started playing football in a pee wee league at age 6. He then moved on to playing at Northside Junior High. He played running back until he reached college. In his senior year of high school, he scored 14 touchdowns and gained over 700 yards. He was also a state champion track star in high school. He was considered one of the best track athletes in the world after winning the 110 meter high hurdles with a time of 13.9 seconds at the Keebler International Prep Track and Field Invitational in June 1988.College career
Brooks played collegiately for the University of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
(1988–1991). He was a fan favorite throughout his college career, Brooks was known for his fluid running and sure hands. He was a Freshman All-American in 1988.
Originally recruited as a running back, Brooks took to the field at Wide receiver wearing the jersey number 49 for the Gamecocks. During the 1988 season; Brooks,then a freshmen, made an exceptional over the shoulder one handed catch for a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Pro career
Brooks was drafted in the third round, 62nd over all, of the 1992 NFL draft to the Green Bay Packers. He played for the Green Bay Packers (1992–1998) and the Denver Broncos (2000). He led the NFL in kickoff returns in 1993 with a 26.6-yard average. He came into his own in 1995, following a career-ending injury to teammate Sterling SharpeSterling Sharpe
Sterling Sharpe is a former American football wide receiver and an analyst for the NFL Network. He attended the University of South Carolina, and played from 1988 to 1994 with the Green Bay Packers.-Early life:...
. That year, he led the Packers with 102 receptions and 13 touchdowns, while racking up 1,497 receiving yards, a franchise record [1]. During the 1995 season, Brooks caught a 99-yard pass play from Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
during a Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
game against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
September 11th, 1995. This reception currently ties the records for longest pass play from scrimmage with eleven other receivers.
Brooks suffered a severe knee injury in week 7 of the 1996 season against the San Francisco 49ers. Niners cornerback Tyronne Drakeford
Tyronne Drakeford
Tyronne James Drakeford is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League. He played for the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Redskins. He played college football at Virginia Tech and was drafted in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft....
pulled Brooks to the turf while he was blocking downfield. Brooks suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
and a torn patellar tendon on the play. He missed the remainder of the season, and was unable to play in Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI was an American football game played on January 26, 1997, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1996 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers defeated the American...
. The Packers beat the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
35-21. Brooks vowed to return the next season, and in 1997 he won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, catching 60 passes for 1,010 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Brooks later developed back problems as he was forced to change his running mechanics. He suffered through a painful season in 1998, and briefly retired before attempting a comeback with the Broncos in 2000. Following the season, in which he appeared in only a handful of games, Brooks again retired from the NFL. At the time of his retirement, Brooks finished with 309 receptions, 4,276 yards, and 32 touchdowns.
Post-football career
After his football career ended, members of Brooks family called him about going into the music industry, using the nickname “Shoo-in” which he had developed during his football-playing days. Brooks created the record label “Shoo-in 4 Life”. He also has produced two CD's entitled Jump and Down wit’ tha Bay.Brooks is now married and the father of three children — Robert, Elisha and Austin — residing in the Phoenix, AZ area. He has become the minister of Trendsetters Church at RBM Center in Phoenix.