Ahmad Brooks

Ahmad Kadar Brooks (born March 14, 1984) is an American former football linebacker. He played college football at Virginia and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2006 NFL supplemental draft. Brooks also played for the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers.

Early life
Brooks attended C. D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, where he helped lead two VHSL state championships during his freshman and sophomore year (1998 and 1999). Becoming recognized, Brooks' team was nationally ranked, going 40–0 before losing to Potomac High School of Woodbridge, Virginia, during his junior season in 2000. Brooks injured his ankle during his junior season, which sidelined him that year. His senior season in 2001 was very productive—Brooks had 202 tackles (144 solo), including 34 for loss, and rushed for 848 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 12.6 yards per carry. The semifinal loss to Thomas Dale High School of Chester, Virginia, in 2001 was the only loss in which he played. Brooks was named the USA Today national high school defensive player of the year after the 2001 season. He also participated in the 2002 U.S. Army All-American Bowl game.

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Brooks was listed as the number-one middle linebacker in the nation in 2002.

College career
Following high school, Brooks spent a semester at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia, a military post-graduate school, before enrolling in the University of Virginia in the winter of 2003. He earned a starting position on the Virginia Cavaliers football team as a freshman and finished the year with a career-high and team-leading 117 tackles. Brooks also had four sacks, six passes defensed, 10 tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback pressures. He had a career-high 12 tackles against Pittsburgh in the Continental Tire Bowl, including a key stop early in the contest to complete a goal-line stand.

During his sophomore year at the University of Virginia, Brooks was one of three Butkus Award finalists, awarded annually to the best college linebacker in the country. He played in 12 games, earning All-America honors after totaling a team-leading 90 tackles with eight sacks, two interceptions, 11 quarterback pressures, and 10 tackles for loss. Brooks earned Atlantic Coast Conference defensive lineman of the week honors for his performance against the Maryland Terrapins. Following his sophomore campaign, Brooks underwent knee surgery.

Brooks missed the first half of his junior year while rehabilitating his knee. Brooks finished the year with 27 tackles (10 solo), a sack, four pass deflections, and five quarterback pressures in only six games. Brooks was dismissed from the Cavalier football team following the 2005 season due to issues off the field.

2006 season
Brooks entered the NFL supplemental draft following his junior season at Virginia and was selected by the Bengals in the third round on July 13, 2006.

Brooks made his NFL debut during a Week 3 28–20 road victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but recorded no statistics. In the next game against the New England Patriots, Brooks recorded his first NFL tackle as the Bengals lost by a score of 38–13. Following a Week 5 bye, the Bengals went on the road to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In that game, Brooks made his first NFL start and recorded 11 tackles and a pass deflection during the narrow 14–13 loss. In the next game against the Carolina Panthers, Brooks recorded five tackles, a pass deflection, and his first NFL sack as the Bengals won by a score of 17–14. The following week against the Atlanta Falcons, he had six tackles in the narrow 29–27 loss.

Brooks finished his rookie year with 31 tackles, two passes defended, and a sack in 11 games and five starts.

2007 season
During the season opening 27–20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, Brooks was the starting middle linebacker and recorded six tackles and a strip-sack. However, in the first series of the next game against the Cleveland Browns, Brooks tore his groin muscle, prematurely ending his season. Brooks was placed on injured reserve on November 7, 2007.

Brooks was waived by the Bengals on August 30, 2008, during final roster cuts.

2008 season
On August 31, 2008, Brooks was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco 49ers. However, he saw no playing time in 2008.

2009 season
Brooks made his 49ers debut in the Week 3 27–24 road loss to the Minnesota Vikings and finished the game with two tackles. During a Week 7 24–21 road loss to the Houston Texans, Brooks recorded two tackles and his first sack of the season.

During a Week 13 20–17 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Brooks recorded five tackles, a forced fumble, and a sack. In the next game against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football, he had four tackles and single-game career-highs of three sacks and two forced fumbles as the 49ers won by a score of 24–9. Two weeks later against the Detroit Lions, Brooks recorded two tackles and a sack in the 20–6 victory.

Brooks finished the 2009 season with 21 tackles, six sacks, and two pass deflections in 14 games and no starts.

2010 season
During a Week 2 25–22 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football, Brooks recorded two tackles and his first sack of the season. During a Week 8 24–16 victory over the Denver Broncos, Brooks had three tackles and his second sack of the season. Brooks earned his first start as a 49er in Week 13 against the Green Bay Packers and finished the 34–16 road loss with four tackles and two sacks. In the regular season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, Brooks recorded four tackles, a sack, a pass deflection, and his first NFL interception as the 49ers won by a score of 38–7.

Brooks finished the 2010 season with 31 tackles, five sacks, two pass deflections, and an interception in 15 games and one start.

2011 season
During a Week 3 13–8 road victory over his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals, Brooks recorded five tackles and his first sack of the season. Three weeks later against the Detroit Lions, he had five tackles and a sack in the 25–19 road victory. Following a Week 7 bye, the 49ers faced the Cleveland Browns. In that game, Brooks recorded three tackles and two sacks (one was a strip-sack) as the 49ers won by a score of 20–10. In the next game against the Washington Redskins, he had four tackles and a sack during the 19–11 road victory. Two weeks later against the Arizona Cardinals, Brooks recorded three tackles and a sack in the 23–7 victory. During the regular-season finale against the St. Louis Rams, he had two tackles and a sack in the 34–27 road victory.

The 49ers finished the season atop the NFC West with a 13–3 record and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs as the #2-seed. Brooks finished the 2011 season with a career-high 50 tackles, seven sacks, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 16 games and starts. In the Divisional Round against the New Orleans Saints, he recorded four tackles, a pass deflection, and a sack as the 49ers won by a score of 36–32. During the NFC Championship Game against the New York Giants, Brooks had two tackles in the 20–17 overtime loss.

2012 season
On February 28, 2012, Brooks signed a six-year contract extension worth $44.5 million, with $17.5 million guaranteed.

During the season-opening 30–22 road victory over the Green Bay Packers, Brooks had two tackles and sacked Aaron Rodgers once. Two weeks later against the Minnesota Vikings, Brooks recorded nine tackles and a forced fumble in the 24–13 road loss. In the next game against the New York Jets, he had two tackles and a sack in the 34–0 shutout road victory. The following week against the Buffalo Bills, Brooks recorded two tackles and a sack as the 49ers won on the road by a score of 45–3.

During a Week 8 24–3 road victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football, Brooks recorded two tackles and a sack. Following a Week 9 bye, the 49ers faced the St. Louis Rams at home in Week 10. Brooks finished the 24–24 tie with eight tackles, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble. Two weeks later against the New Orleans Saints, he recorded five tackles, 1.5 sacks, a pass deflection, and his first NFL interception which was returned for a touchdown in the 31–21 road victory. During the regular-season finale against the Cardinals, Brooks had three tackles and a sack in the 27–13 victory.

The 49ers finished the season atop the NFC West with a 11–4–1 record and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs as the #2-seed. Brooks finished the 2012 season with 48 tackles, 6.5 sacks, six pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and an interception returned for a touchdown in 16 games and starts. In the Wild Card Round against the Packers, he recorded two tackles as the 49ers won by a score of 45–31. During the NFC Championship Game against Atlanta Falcons, Brooks had two pass deflections in the 28–24 comeback road victory as the 49ers earned a trip to Super Bowl XLVII. In the Super Bowl against the Baltimore Ravens, he recorded five tackles and a sack but the 49ers fell behind early and a strong comeback effort fell just short, losing by a score of 34–31.

2013 season
During a Week 2 29–3 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Brooks recorded nine tackles and his first sack of the season. Two weeks later against the St. Louis Rams, Brooks had seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a pass deflection in the 35–11 road victory.

During a Week 7 31–17 road victory over the Tennessee Titans, Bowman recorded a tackle, a pass deflection, and a sack. Three weeks later against the Carolina Panthers, he had five tackles and sacked Cam Newton twice in the narrow 10–9 loss. In the next game against the New Orleans Saints, Brooks had two tackles, a strip-sack, a fumble recovery, a pass deflection, and an interception as the 49ers lost on the road by a score of 23–20. On November 20, 2013, he was fined $15,750 by the NFL for a controversial roughing-the-passer penalty in which he struck the neck of quarterback Drew Brees, the same quarterback off whom he scored his first NFL touchdown. This fine was later overturned.

During a Week 12 27–6 road victory over the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football, Brooks recorded seven tackles, two sacks, and a pass deflection. Two weeks later against the Seahawks, he had five tackles and a pass deflection in the narrow 19–17 victory.

Brooks finished the 2013 season setting career-highs in tackles with 60, sacks with 8.5, and pass deflections with seven while also recording two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and an interception in 16 games and starts. As a result, Brooks was named to his first Pro Bowl. The 49ers finished the 2013 season second in the NFC West with a 12–4 record and qualified for the playoffs. They beat the Packers on the road by a score of 23–20 in the Wild Card Round in which Brooks had six tackles and two sacks (one was a strip-sack). In the Divisional Round of the playoffs, he recorded six tackles and 2.5 sacks as the 49ers beat the Panthers on the road by a score of 23–10. During the NFC Championship Game against the Seahawks, Brooks recorded three tackles in the 23–17 road loss.

2014 season
During the season-opening 28–17 road victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Brooks recorded a tackle and his first sack of the season. During a Week 6 31–17 road victory over the St. Louis Rams on Monday Night Football, Brooks had five tackles and two sacks.

During a Week 10 27–24 overtime road victory over the New Orleans Saints, Brooks recorded three tackles along with a strip-sack in overtime to help set up the game-winning field goal. Two weeks later against the Washington Redskins, he had three tackles, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery in the 17–13 victory. In the next game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving, Brooks recorded four tackles, a pass deflection, and a sack during the 19–3 loss. Brooks made his final appearance of the season in Week 15 against the Seahawks. During that game, he had three tackles and a sack as the 49ers lost on the road by a score of 17–7.

Brooks finished the 2014 season with 30 tackles, six sacks, three pass deflections, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 13 games and starts.

2015 season
During a Week 4 17–3 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Brooks recorded five tackles and his first sack of the season. Three weeks later against the Seattle Seahawks, Brooks had five tackles and sacked Russell Wilson twice as the 49ers lost by a score of 20–3.

During a Week 11 29–13 road loss to the Seahawks, Brooks recorded three tackles and a sack. Three weeks later against the Cleveland Browns, he had five tackles and recovered a fumble in the 24–10 road loss. In the next game against his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals, Brooks recorded five tackles and a sack as the 49ers lost by a score of 24–14. The following week against the Detroit Lions, he had three tackles and 1.5 sacks in the 32–17 road loss.

Brooks finished the 2015 season with 42 tackles, 6.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, and a pass deflection in 14 games and starts.

2016 season
During the season-opening 28–0 shutout win over the Los Angeles Rams, Brooks recorded three tackles and his first sack of the season. Two weeks later against the Seattle Seahawks, he had four tackles, two pass deflections, and a sack in the 37–18 road loss.

During a Week 7 34–17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brooks recorded five tackles and 0.5 sacks. During a Week 11 30–17 loss to the New England Patriots, he had two tackles and sacked Tom Brady once. In the next game against the Miami Dolphins, Brooks recorded four tackles and 0.5 sacks during the 31–24 road loss. The following week against the Chicago Bears, he had three tackles and a sack as the 49ers lost on the road by a score of 26–6.

During a Week 15 41–13 road loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Brooks had four tackles and a forced fumble. In the next game against the Rams, he recorded five tackles, a pass deflection, and a sack as the 49ers narrowly won on the road by a score of 22–21.

Brooks finished the 2016 season with 53 tackles, six sacks, four pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 16 games and starts.

Brooks was released by the 49ers on August 25, 2017.

Green Bay Packers
On September 3, 2017, Brooks signed a one-year deal with the Green Bay Packers.

Brooks made his Packers debut during the season-opening 17–9 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, recording one tackle. Two weeks later against his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals, he had two tackles and his first sack of the season as the Packers won in overtime by a score of 27–24. During a Week 11 23–0 shutout loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Brooks recorded three tackles and 0.5 sacks.

Brooks finished the 2017 season with 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two pass deflections in 12 games and five starts.

Personal life
Brooks' father, former Washington Redskins defensive tackle Perry Brooks, died in March 2010.