Ahmad Brooks

Ahmad Kadar Brooks (born March 14, 1984) is an American former football outside linebacker.

Brooks attended C. D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, where he helped lead two VHSL state championships during his freshman and sophomore year (1998 and 1999).

Becoming recognized, Brooks' team was nationally ranked, going 40–0 before losing to Potomac High School of Woodbridge, Virginia, during his junior season in 2000.

Brooks injured his ankle during his junior season, which sidelined him that year.

His senior season in 2001 was very productive—Brooks had 202 tackles (144 solo), including 34 for loss, and rushed for 848 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 12.6 yards per carry.

The semifinal loss to Thomas Dale High School of Chester, Virginia, in 2001 was the only loss in which he played.

Brooks was named the USA Today national high school defensive player of the year after the 2001 season.

He also participated in the 2002 U.S. Army All-American Bowl game.

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Brooks was listed as the number-one middle linebacker in the nation in 2002.

Following high school, Brooks spent a semester at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia, a military post-graduate school, before enrolling in the University of Virginia in the winter of 2003.

He earned a starting position on the Virginia Cavaliers football team as a freshman and finished the year with a career-high and team-leading 117 tackles.

Brooks also had four sacks, six passes defensed, 10 tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback pressures.

He had a career-high 12 tackles against Pittsburgh in the Continental Tire Bowl, including a key stop early in the contest to complete a goal-line stand.

During his sophomore year at the University of Virginia, Brooks was one of three Butkus Award finalists, awarded annually to the best college linebacker in the country.

He played in 12 games, earning All-America honors after totaling a team-leading 90 tackles with eight sacks, two interceptions, 11 quarterback pressures, and 10 tackles for loss.

Brooks earned Atlantic Coast Conference defensive lineman of the week honors for his performance against the Maryland Terrapins.

Following his sophomore campaign, Brooks underwent knee surgery.

Brooks missed the first half of his junior year while rehabilitating his knee.

Brooks finished the year with 27 tackles (10 solo), a sack, four pass deflections, and five quarterback pressures in only six games.

Brooks was dismissed from the Cavalier football team following the 2005 season due to issues off the field.

He played college football at Virginia and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2006 NFL supplemental draft.

Brooks has also played for the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers.

Brooks entered the NFL supplemental draft following his junior season at Virginia and was selected by the Bengals in the third round on July 13, 2006.

Brooks made his NFL debut during a Week 3 28–20 road victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but recorded no statistics.

In the next game against the New England Patriots, Brooks recorded his first NFL tackle as the Bengals lost by a score of 38–13.

Following a Week 5 bye, the Bengals went on the road to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In that game, Brooks made his first NFL start and recorded 11 tackles and a pass deflection during the narrow 14–13 loss.

In the next game against the Carolina Panthers, Brooks recorded five tackles, a pass deflection, and his first NFL sack as the Bengals won by a score of 17–14.

The following week against the Atlanta Falcons, he had six tackles in the narrow 29–27 loss.

Brooks finished his rookie year with 31 tackles, two passes defended, and a sack in 11 games and five starts.

During the season opening 27–20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, Brooks was the starting middle linebacker and recorded six tackles and a strip-sack.

However, in the first series of the next game against the Cleveland Browns, Brooks tore his groin muscle, prematurely ending his season.

Brooks was placed on injured reserve on November 7, 2007.

Brooks was waived by the Bengals on August 30, 2008, during final roster cuts.

On August 31, 2008, Brooks was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco 49ers.

However, he saw no playing time in 2008.

Brooks made his 49ers debut in the Week 3 27–24 road loss to the Minnesota Vikings and finished the game with two tackles.

During a Week 7 24–21 road loss to the Houston Texans, Brooks recorded two tackles and his first sack of the season.

During a Week 13 20–17 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Brooks recorded five tackles, a forced fumble, and a sack.

In the next game against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football, he had four tackles and single-game career-highs of three sacks and two forced fumbles as the 49ers won by a score of 24–9.