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Go ahead and add Derrick Brooks to the NFL 100 All-Time Team.
That’s right, the heart and soul of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl-winning defense made the all-time roster on Friday, officially cementing his status as one of the best linebackers to play the game.
Including playoffs, he scored eight times in his career.@DBrooks55 was one of the most dynamic linebackers ever. #NFL100 pic.twitter.com/hHWGjlhDNh
— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2019
Brooks was a key figure in Tampa Bay’s glory days, back when the Bucs were perennial playoff contenders. He helped the franchise capture its first Super Bowl in 2002 with a victory over the Oakland Raiders.
No. 55 is known for making plays all over the field. None of that speaks more than his eight defensive touchdowns (including playoffs), especially the four he recorded in 2002, when he won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He was the perfect MIKE for a Tampa 2 defense thanks to his range, coverage abilities, tackling, and sideline-to-sideline speed.
From one sideline to the other, @DBrooks55 dominated every time he took the field.
— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2019
: #NFL100 All-Time Team on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/68gmBoqzRK
Speaking of awards, here are some of the awards and accolades that t Brooks attained over his 14-year career:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2014)
- 2002 Super Bowl XXXVII Champion
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
- 2002 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- 5x First-team All-Pro
- 4x Second-team All-Pro
- 11x Pro Bowl Selection
Brooks was inducted into the Bucs’ Ring of Honor and had his jersey retired (55) in 2014. He was selected with the 28th overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft and recorded 1,698 total tackles, 13.5 sacks, 24 forced fumbles, 25 interceptions, and seven (regular-season) defensive touchdowns.