Derrick Dewan Brooks (born April 18, 1973 in Pensacola, Florida) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buccaneers 28th overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.

An eleven-time Pro Bowl selection and nine-time All-Pro, Brooks was named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2002. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Brooks was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round, 28th overall, of the 1995 NFL Draft.[4] Brooks played 14 years for the Buccaneers and is widely considered one of, it not the best player in the history of the franchise and one of the best linebackers in the history of the National Football League.[5][6] From 1995 to 2008 Brooks started 221 of 224 games, recording 1,698 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 25 interceptions, and six touchdowns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times, including 10 straight from 1997 to 2006, was an All-Pro nine times, was the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, and led the team to the franchise's first Super Bowl win in Super Bowl XXXVII.[7]

As a rookie in 1995 Brooks started 13 of 16 games. He finished the season with 78 tackles with a sack and earned first team all-rookie honors from Pro Football Weekly and Pro Football Writers Association. During his second season 1996, he started all 16 games and finished with a team leading 132 tackles and his first career interception. In 1997 Brooks earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl after recording 144 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions in 16 games. In 1998 Brooks had another Pro Bowl season after recording 156 tackles and an interception.

In 1999 Brooks made the Pro Bowl for the third time and was a first team All-Pro selection for the first time in his career. For the season he had 153 tackles, two sacks, and four interceptions. In 2000 Brooks earned his fourth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl and his second consecutive first team All-Pro selection. He finished the season with 140 tackles, a sack, and had his first career touchdown on a 34 yard interception from Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Brooks was also, along with Jim Flanigan of the Chicago Bears, the winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given to a National Football League player for his community service activities as well as his excellence on the field.[8] Brooks made his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl in 2001 after recording 112 tackles and three interceptions.

Brooks best season came in 2002. During that year he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press and helped the Buccaneers win the franchises first Super Bowl. He also made his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl and was a first team All-Pro selection for the third time. For the season he had 117 tackles, a sack, and returned a NFL record, for a linebacker, five touchdowns (two off fumbles and three off interceptions).[9] During the Buccaneers 48 to 21 victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, he returned an interception off of Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon 44 yards for a touchdown.[10]

In 2003 Brooks broke Lee Roy Selmon's team record for most consecutive Pro Bowl appearances with seven. He finished the season with 101 tackles, a sack, two interceptions, and returned an interception for a touchdown. In 2004 Brooks made his eighh consecutive Pro Bowl and fourth first team All-Pro selection after recording 137 tackles, three sacks, and an interception. In 2005 Brooks made his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl and earned his fourth first team All-Pro selection. He finished the season with 125 tackles, three sacks, and an interception.

In Brooks 10th consecutive Pro Bowl in 2006, he was named the MVP after returning a Trent Green interception 59 yards for a touchdown to secure the victory for the NFC.[11] During the regular season he had 121 tackles, three interceptions and a touchdown. In 2007 Brooks had 109 tackles and was not voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time since 1996. In Brooks last year with the Buccaneers in 2008 he recorded 73 tackles and an interception and was selected to his 11th Pro Bowl. The 11 Pro Bowls are tied for second most by a linebacker in NFL history.

On February 25, 2009 the Buccaneers released Brooks.[12]

After spending all of the 2009 season as a free agent, Brooks officially announced his retirement on On August 11, 2010