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==High School Career==
==College Career==
At [[Wikipedia:Florida State University|Florida State University]] (FSU), Brooks was a four-year letterman from 1991-1994 and was selected first-team All-American his senior year. Brooks was a key element on FSU's first-ever National Championship when the Seminoles defeated Nebraska 18–16 in the 1993 [[Wikipedia:Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]. The Seminoles National Championship teamare coached by legendary [[Wikipedia:Bobby Bowden|Bobby Bowden]]. Due FSU had suffered their only defeat of the season to academic excellencea second-ranked Notre Dame team, he graduated early with but their path to the National Championship was cleared a 3week later when the Irish were upset at home by Boston College.8 GPAWhile Brooks was at FSU, the Seminoles won the ACC Championship in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
Due to academic excellence, Brooks graduated early with a 3.8 GPA and earned a communications degree. He later received a master's degree. ===Awards and honors/ Honors===
* 3 times: First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) (1992, 1993, 1994)
* 2 times: College Football All-America Team (1993, 1994)
* ACC Defensive Player of the Year (1993)
* 2 times: Vince Lombardi Award (nation's best linebacker) finalist (1993, 1994)
==Professional careerCareer=====Tampa Bay Buccaneers===Brooks was selected in the first round of the [[1995 NFL Draft]] by Tampa Bay. Brooks was instrumental in turning the Buccaneers from perennial doormats into eventual [[Super Bowl]] champions.
Tampa Bay had two first-round selections in the 1995 NFL draft. At number 12 they took defensive tackle '''Warren Sapp''' from Miami. With the 28th selection, the Buccaneers selected Brooks. The 28th pick had been acquired from the [[Wikipedia:Dallas Cowboys|Dallas Cowboys]], whose roster already comprised Pensacola native [[Emmitt Smith]]. Brooks has long been considered one of the premier outside linebackers (OLB) in the NFL, as respected off the field as he is feared on it. He was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] every year from 1997 to 2007, but his 10-year streak ended in 2007, as he did not make the 2008 Pro Bowl. He was selected to the 2009 Pro Bowl, his eleventh 11th selection. Brooks is one of 5 Only five players in NFL history to be have been voted to 10 Pro Bowls, named Defensive Player of the Year, and be become a Super Bowl Champion. The other 4 are [[: Brooks, '''Mike Singletary]]''', [['''Reggie White]]''', [['''Lawrence Taylor]]''', and [['''Ray Lewis (American football)|Ray Lewis]]'''. He has also been named All-Pro 9 nine times. Brooks currently leads all defensive players in consecutive starts, surpassing the 200 start mark late in the 2007 season.
Brooks also was named [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award|NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] by the [[Wikipedia:Associated Press|Associated Press]] in 2002. That The same year, Brooks returned three [[Interception (football)|interceptions]] for touchdowns in the [[2002 NFL season|regular season]], an NFL record for linebackers, and also returned a fumble for a score, for a total of an NFL record 4 four defensive touchdowns at the OLB position. In [[Super Bowl XXXVII]], his 44-yard interception return for a touchdown ensured a victory for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay would go on to defeat the [[Wikipedia:Oakland Raiders|Oakland Raiders]] 48–21 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California.
Brooks earned [[2006 Pro Bowl]] MVP honors by returning a [['''Trent Green]] ''' pass 59 yards for a touchdown, leading the NFC to a win23-17 victory. He has also won the [[Wikipedia:Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award|Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award ]] in 2004 for his off -the -field accomplishments in the Tampa Bay community. The award is given annually to an NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community.
Brooks was released by the Buccaneers after 14 seasons on February 25, 2009.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hBtVEGL3EHNRcEXt6hv134Jh8_2wD96IUI7G3| title=Bucs release Brooks, 4 others| publisher=Associated Press| date=2009-02-25| accessdate=2009-02-25}}</ref>
On September 17, 2009, Brooks made his TV debut on the ESPN2 program "First Take." ===NFL awards and honorsAwards / Honors===* 6× 6 times: First-team All-Pro: (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)* 3× 3 times: Second-team All-Pro (1997, 1998, 2001)* 9× 9 times: First-team All-[[National Football Conference|NFC]] (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)* 11× [[11 times: Pro Bowl]] selection ([[1997, 1998 Pro Bowl|1997]], [[1999 Pro Bowl|1998]], [[2000 Pro Bowl|1999]], [[2001 Pro Bowl|2000]], [[2002 Pro Bowl|2001]], [[2003 Pro Bowl|2002]], [[2004 Pro Bowl|2003]], [[2005 Pro Bowl|2004]], [[2006 Pro Bowl|2005]], [[2007 Pro Bowl|2006]], [[2009 Pro Bowl|2008]])* Co-[[Walter Payton Man of the Year Award]] (2000)* [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award|AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] (2002)* [[Super Bowl]] champion Champion ([[Super Bowl XXXVII|XXXVII]])* [[Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award (2004) * Pro Bowl MVP]] ([[2006 Pro Bowl|2005]])
==Personal==
'''Derrick Dewan Brooks ''' was born April 18, 1973. He is married to '''Carol Brooks''' and have four children: their daughters '''Brianna Monai''' (11) and '''Denice''' (born September, 2005) and sons, '''Derrick Brooks, Jr.''' (7) and '''Darius Dewan'''.
Brooks has donated much of his money to charity. In addition Brooks donated $1,000 for every tackle he made against the Seahawks (10) which was a total of $10,000. Brooks is the founder of the Brooks Bunch charity and youth scholarship foundation in the Tampa Bay area. He has taken local youngsters across the nation and South Africa with the objective of presenting a first hand experience, or a "mobile classroom." Brooks also headed the founding of the Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School in Tampa.
Brooks is well known for his charity work and his advocacy of the importance of education. He was the co-recipient of the 2000 [[[[Wikipedia:Jeb BushWalter Payton Man of the Year Award|Jeb Bush]]. Walter Payton Man of the Year Award]] , (with '''Jim Flanigan''') and was named to the FSU Board of Trustees in 2003 by Governor [[Wikipedia:Jeb Bush|Jeb Bush]].
==External links==
*[http://buccaneers.com/team/playerdetail.aspx?player=Brooks,Derrick,55 Derrick Brooks Tampa Bay Buccaneers bio page]
* [http://www.nfl.com NFL website]
* [http://www.buccaneers.com Tampa Bay Buccaneers website]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Super_Bowl_champions List of Super Bowl Champions]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_I_FBS_National_Football_Championship List of College Football National Champions]
*[http://www.derrickbrookscharities.org Derrick Brooks Charities]