Barrett Brooks

Barrett Brooks wanted to be an NBA player or work for the Post Office like half his family. Barrett’s mother made him play to keep him off the streets of St. Louis, Kinloch in particular. At the time Kinloch, a suburb of St. Louis, had the 5th highest crime rate per capita in the country. “Basketball was my favorite sport, but gravity took over, and two hamburgers later, Brooks was 6’ 4” 246 pounds.”

Barrett received a full ride scholarship to Kansas State University in football. He said he only attended KSU because they allowed him to walk on the Basketball team. Brooks soon realized that football was in his plans and there was nothing he could do about. At the time KSU was ranked 106 out of 107 division one football teams. KSU played in eight Home Coming games the year he red-shirted. God had a plan. The next four years KSU was ranked no higher than 12th in the country and went to three Bowl Games. During his tenure at KSU he was All Big 8 and an All American.

Brooks was then drafted his senior year, by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round. He was the 58th overall pick. The Eagles acquired early success, going to the play-offs two out of the four years he was there. He then played for the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants. After leaving the Big Apple, he was picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brooks played there for four years and eventually won Super Bowl “XL”. This was a fitting end to a Blessed 12yr career in the NFL