keith brooking

Atlanta Falcons (1998–2008) Dallas Cowboys (2009–present) Roster status: Active Career highlights and awards 5x Pro Bowl selection (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) 2x Second-team AP All-Pro selection (2002, 2004) Selected NFL statistics

(through Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season) Tackles 972 Sacks 17.0 INTs 12 Stats at NFL.com

Keith Howard Brooking (born October 30, 1975 in Senoia, Georgia) is a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech.

Brooking was a five-time Pro Bowl selection with the Falcons. Contents [hide] 1 Early years 2 College Career 3 Professional career 3.1 Atlanta Falcons 3.2 Dallas Cowboys 4 Personal 4.1 The Keith Brooking Children's Foundation 5 References 6 External links //

Early years

He graduated from East Coweta High School in Sharpsburg, Georgia in 1994. He played both offense and defense as #35, was a member of the Key Club and was also voted Mr. ECHS. He was recruited to play college football by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

College Career

He started 34 straight games to end his college career as he led the team in tackles during his final three seasons at Georgia Tech and became the leading tackler in school history with 467 career stops, he had two of the top tackle seasons in Georgia Tech history with 147 and 146, respectively, as a junior and sophomore. Brooking had 131 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, three passes defensed, one fumble recovery and one blocked field goal to lead Tech to a Bowl game as a senior. Voted a permanent team captain by his teammates and a finalist for the Dick Butkus Award. He was the top tackler in the ACC in 1995 after averaging 13.3 stops a game and ranked second in the conference in 1996 with 13.4 tackles a game. Finished his collegiate career with 15 tackles and one interception to help the Yellow Jackets defeat West Virginia in the Carquest Bowl .

Professional career

Atlanta Falcons

After being the 12th overall selection by the Falcons in the 1998 NFL Draft, Brooking quickly became the foundation of their defense. As of 2007, he is the only remaining member of the 1998 Falcons team that made it to Super Bowl XXXIII. He is one of only a few NFL players to play his entire football career (Pee Wee to Pro) in his home state. In his rookie season, he played in 15 games and posted 32 tackles, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 passes defensed as he served as the team nickel linebacker in passing situations throughout the season. He recorded 8 tackles in the NFC Championship game vs Minnesota