| PERSONAL Married to Carol... Has four
children: daughters, Brianna Monai (11) and Dania Denice
(born September, 2005) and sons, Derrick Brooks, Jr. (7)
and Darius Dewan (5)... Mother is Geraldine Mitchell…
Co-recipient of the 2000 Walter Payton/NFL Man of the Year
award… In 2004, was the winner of the prestigious
38th annual Byron “Whizzer” White Award for
his dedication to serve his team, community and country
in the spirit of the late Supreme Court Justice… Was
given the award at the 2004 NFL Players Gridiron Gala, which
honored the unsung heroes of the NFL… Appointed to
Florida State University board of trustees by Governor Jeb
Bush in 2003… In 2004, was asked to sit on the Florida
Department of Education Foundation by Jim Horne, the State
Commissioner of Education… Recipient of 2003 Bart
Starr Award, given to the NFL player, voted on by his peers,
who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership
in the home, on the field and in the community… In
2002, was named to the NFLPA Diversity Committee to work
with NFLPA executive Director Gene Upshaw on the issue of
diversity in the NFL... Has a web site, www.derrickbrookscharities.org,
which outlines all of his community endeavors… In
March 2003, established his own foundation - Derrick Brooks
Charities, Inc.... The Foundation hosts an annual golf tournament,
The Derrick Brooks Celebrity Classic... Focuses charitable
endeavors on children and has done considerable work with
March of Dimes, D.A.R.E. and the Belmont Heights, Ybor City
and Brandon Boys and Girls Club... For the ninth consecutive
year in 2005, hosted “Brooks Bunch,” a group
of 20 kids from Belmont Heights, Ybor City and Brandon Boys
and Girls Club whom he invites to every Buccaneers home
game... Also has taken “Brooks Bunch” participants
on out-of-town field trips, including the 1999 visit to
Washington, D.C, a two-week trip to Africa in 2000 and a
visit to the Western United States in 2001, including stops
at historical sites, such as the Grand Canyon... The 2003
trip featured visits to colleges and universities in New
York, Chicago, Atlanta and Tallahassee... The group’s
seventh educational during the 2005 offseason saw the Brooks
Bunch return to Africa, making several educational stops
throughout South Africa… In April 2006, received the
prestigious J. Rex Farrior Distinguished Citizenship Award
at the Tampa chapter of the National Football Foundation
and College Hall of Fame’s 38th Annual Scholar Athlete
Awards Banquet… The award is presented annually to
a former or current player who has carried the lessons learned
on the football field into a life of service to the community…
Participated in the NFL’s 2005 “Take A Player
to School” program… In early December, 2005
along with several other top NFL players, past and present,
taped the 10th anniversary installment of Wheel of Fortune
NFL Players Week, which aired in national syndication this
past January… Each player was paired with a fan, spinning
the wheel for cash and NFL-themed prizes while benefiting
Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc… Has been named to The
Sporting News NFL’s 100 Best Players List the past
three seasons (2003-2005)… During the past four Thanksgivings
(2002-2005), distributed 100 Thanksgiving dinners to families
in need whose children attend the Wilbert Davis and Ybor
City Boys & Girls Clubs… In May 2006, was presented
an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from St. Leo’s
University for his work in the community… This past
January, surprised Michelle Stone, a fifth-grade teacher
at Sheehy Elementary School in Tampa, in her classroom with
a lei, balloons, flowers, jersey and a letter from the NFL
naming her the national 2005 NFL Fan Teacher of the Year…
During the 2005 season, participated in the NFL’s
“Road To Forty” Ad Campaign, appearing in a
commercial with several other former and current NFL greats…
In February, 2005 was one of six African-Americans who were
honored as part of BET and General Motors’ “History
Makers in the Making” celebration… Visited Hurricane
Charley victims and relief workers in Lake Wales in the
summer of 2004… Prior to the September 19, 2004 game
against Seattle, Derrick Brooks Charities and the Buccaneers
organized a program to collect monetary donations at Raymond
James Stadium for Hurricane Ivan relief efforts in his hometown
of Pensacola, Florida… In addition, Derrick Brooks
Charities donated $1,000 for each tackle he made against
the Seahawks (10 tackles), which resulted in an additional
$10,000 towards the relief effort… Because of his
work in Pensacola with victims of Hurricane Ivan, the NFL
named him the Ameriquest Neighborhood MVP for Week 6 of
the 2004 NFL regular season… Along with teammate Ronde
Barber, played in the American Century Celebrity Golf Classic
at Lake Tahoe during the 2005 offseason… Hosted his
annual holiday party at GameWorks with members of the Wilbert
Davis, Brandon and Ybor City Boys & Girls Clubs during
the past three holiday seasons (2003-2005)… Traveled
to his hometown of Pensacola during the 2004 season to distribute
200 turkey dinners to families whose children attend the
Boys & Girls Clubs of Escambia County… In 2004,
attended the Shelton Quarles IMPACT Foundation Extra Effort
Awards Luncheon, where he served as a table host for other
attendees… As part of the NFL’s “Take
a Player to School Program” in 2005, visited the third
grade class at Mary Bryant Elementary School to speak about
the importance of in-school and after-school education,
as well as some football instruction… Received an
inaugural “JB Award” prior to the 2004 season,
which was presented by then-FOX NFL Sunday anchor James
Brown, recognizing NFL players for their commitment to achieve
excellence off the field through building better communities
and stronger families… Participated in the launch
of Tampa’s Civic Pride Campaign with Mayor Pam Iorio
during the 2004 offseason… One of 13 local residents
featured on billboards across the Bay Area as part of the
“I Am Tampa” campaign… Invited by the
Tampa Bay Lightning to participate in the pre-game festivities
during the NHL’s 2004 Stanley Cup Finals... During
the 2004 offseason, Brooks was presented with a jersey from
the Tampa Bay Titans and University of South Florida Rugby
teams in honor of his support of the two programs…
Visited Lutz Elementary School during the 2004 offseason
to speak to students about the importance of education and
how it plays a vital role in their futures… Named
to the 2003 and 2004 All-Interview Team by NFL.com…
Received the 2003 Outstanding Achievement Award from Junior
Achievement… Named the Eddie Mitchell Memorial Award
winner from the Tampa Hillsborough County Human Rights Council…
Honored in November 2003 as the inaugural recipient of the
Derrick Brooks Diamond in the Community Award presented
by The Champions Fund, a Florida-based national public charity
comprised of donor athlete funds… Celebrated 2002
and 2003 Thanksgiving with some of Tampa’s underprivileged
by distributing Thanksgiving dinners to families whose children
attend the Belmont Heights and Ybor City Boys & Girls
Club… Featured on the cover of the NFL’s 2003
NFL Record and Fact book… One of a group of Buccaneers
to represent the team at the 2003 ESPY Awards… Teamed
with the Kids Wish Network in November of 2002 to participate
in its Holiday of Hope program at Shriners Hospitals for
Children to pass out toys and sign autographs for children
confined to their hospital... Held his annual Christmas
party in 2002 in which he distributed NIKE tennis shoes
and gifts to members of the Belmont Heights and Ybor City
Boys and Girls Clubs... Participated in Just Play, an all-sport
equipment-recycling program for youth in the Tampa Bay area...
Received a 2002 Giant Steps Award from the National Consortium
for Academics and Sports for his dedication to using his
appeal as an athlete to positively affect social change...
Winner of 2002 EDDIE (Excellence, Dedication, Devotion,
In Education) Award from the Hillsborough Education Foundation
in the educational visionary category... One of three recipients
of a 2001 Silver Medallion Humanitarian Award by the National
Conference for Community and Justice... Named to Florida
State’s Hall of Fame and the school’s All-Time
Team in 2000... Received honors from the Florida Sports
Awards in both 2000 and 2001 for his civic duty... Was the
recipient of the Tampa Tribune People’s Champion Award
for his contributions on and off the field in 1998... Earned
first college degree in December, 1994, five months early...
Attended the Craig James School of Broadcasting and is interested
in pursuing broadcasting career following conclusion of
playing career... Co-hosts weekly one-hour radio call-in
show... Cousin of former Buccaneer RB Melvin Carver... Attended
Booker T. Washington (Pensacola, Florida) High School, lettering
in football and basketball... His alma mater named an athletic
facility after him and boxer Roy Jones, Jr... As a senior,
was USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year,
a first team Parade All-America selection and a first team
all-state pick... Rated best safety in country by several
recruiting services and was ranked as best defensive player
in country by Super Prep... Was high school honor student,
graduating with 3.94 average... Born Derrick Dewan Brooks
on April 18, 1973 in Pensacola, Florida.
courtesy of Buccaneers.com |
