Derrick
BROOKS The leader of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ heralded defense is still playing at an extremely high level 14
years into his sublime NFL career. The 11-time Pro Bowler hopes to lead the Buccaneers to another playoff
berth – it would be the team's eighth postseason appearance during his tenure in Tampa – and is once
again at the center of a defense ranked in the NFL's top 10. Brooks has more Pro Bowl nods than any linebacker
in NFL history other than Junior Seau, and many expect him to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. In
this exclusive interview with Buccaneers Review, Brooks talks about his storied NFL career, which
includes a Super Bowl Championship and a consecutive games streak that is tied for the longest among all
active defensive players.
What does it mean to you to be
selected to your 11th career Pro
Bowl?
“First of all, it’s very humbling. I
thank God for all the people that
voted for me and more importantly,
my teammates that helped me sustain
my game and kept our team at a
high level all year long, and especially
our defense playing top-10 football
all year long. Again, it’s a tribute to a
lot of hard work that was not only
put in this offseason, but put in during
the season, treatment hours,
fighting through injury, and at the
same time, playing as well as a I
could through the injury and supporting
the guys that played while I was
hurt. I think the Lord blessed all
those efforts.”
What would you say is your
greatest accomplishment
throughout your career?
“It’s hard to say at this point because
I’m still playing. I think that’s a fair
question whenever my career is over.
I would probably look back on four
or five special moments. I can say
that there’s nothing like the camaraderie
of a locker room. All the
retired players that I’ve talked to,
that I’ve played with, the one thing
they said they missed the most in
retirement was the camaraderie of
the locker room.”
How you have helped the younger
players on the defense mature
over the years?
“It would be interesting to see what
they tell you. I can’t really say; everybody’s
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Oakland Raiders
different. I would like to know
what they think I’ve helped them
with. Generally, I just try to help
them be a better person, a better
man. I show them my actions, how
I’m a God-fearing man and how your
influence goes beyond the field of
play. That’s one thing that I really try
to show the young guys, that this
game is just a small part of who you
are, but it’s a big stage and you can
use it for a lot of positive advantages.”
What coach, at any level, had the
greatest impact on your life personally
and professionally?
“That’s a tough one. You have to
start all the way back at my little
league, with a guy by the name of
David Singfield, a military guy that
preached hard work and never giving
up. I think that molded me as a
young man. And all through the
ranks of college with Mickey
Andrews and Coach Bobby
Bowden. Coach Bowden is a very
big part of me spiritually in growing
as a young man and recognizing having
God in your life as a relationship
and not just a part of your life.
Mickey Andrews is the epitome of
perseverance. He wants to get, as
they say, the milk out of the cow, he
wants every drop. At the same time
when he’s tearing you down, he’s
really building you up because he
wants you to maximize all your
potential, no matter what it is. He
challenged me, big time and Coach
Bowden challenged me, not only in
becoming a leader but the importance
of academics and how he
expected me to lead that football
team on and off the field. Even coming
here to the NFL, they bring in
Coach Tony Dungy in my second
year, the epitome of consistency. I
think it was exactly what our franchise
needed. He just helped me
grow into the mold of a leader. And
my position coaches, Lovie Smith creatively
getting the best out of me;
Joe Barry made sure the model of
consistency stayed there; now, Gus
Bradley, who probably had the most
difficulty with all the coaches I’ve
had, because he has to sustain my
game and challenge me to sustain
my game after all the other coaches
made the cake and put icing on it, so
to speak. Gus has to go back in and
make sure it still tastes good and he’s
done that. Finally, you have to say
Monte from a coordinator standpoint,
just the trust we’ve had over
the years and really an education of
the game. He’s had a very big
impact on me learning the education
of football. Finally, Coach Gruden, I
knew the leadership position that
he’s placed on me. In the past, I had
John andWarren to lean on, but
when they were gone, he solely put it
on me. For him to trust an entire
football team to me being the guy to
see us through thick and thin, I can’t
thank him enough because he really
helped me grow in the later years as
a football player. I just thank Coach
Gruden for coming out and challenging
me every day mentally as well as
physically to stay at the top of my
game and not letting me settle on
the past. He’s always asking me to
re-write history. I think every coach
has his place and I can respect that.”