Keith Brooking

Brooking's 2007 Stats from NFL.com

TRANSACTIONS

Selected as a first round (12th pick overall) draft choice by the Atlanta Falcons in 1998.

CAREER

Led the Falcons in total tackles (165) for the sixth consecutive season in 2006.

Has started 96 consecutive games entering the 2007 season, dating back to 2001.

Only player on Atlanta's current roster that played for the Falcons on the 1998 Super Bowl team.

Intense, throwback player who was named to five straight Pro Bowls from 2001-2005. Only Claude Humphrey (1970-74) and Mike Kenn (1980-84) had made five consecutive Pro Bowl appearances in Falcons history.

Totaled 200-plus tackle seasons in 2002 (212) and 2003 (207), becoming only the second Falcons player to tally 200 or more tackles in a season twice.

Posted the most tackles (212) in a season by a Falcons player in 2002 since LB Buddy Curry tallied 229 in 1983. Became the fifth Falcons defender ever to record 200 tackles in a season with those 212 stops.

Recorded double-digit tackles in all 16 games in 2002.

Set a new single-game high with 22 tackles at Green Bay (9/8) in 2002.

Switched from weakside linebacker to middle linebacker with the retirement of LB Jessie Tuggle in 2001.

Promising third season in 2000 was cut short due to a sprained left foot that required surgery and forced him out of the lineup after five games.

2006 (FALCONS)

Started 16 games for the sixth consecutive season and led the team with 165 tackles for the sixth year in a row. He added 2.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed.

Tied a team-high eight tackles at Carolina (9/10) while holding the Panthers running attack to only 65 yards rushing.

Led the team in tackles with 12 vs. Tampa Bay (9/17) in addition to assisting a defense that did not allow a touchdown for the second consecutive game.

Collared a team-high eight tackles and a half-sack vs. Arizona (10/1), while assisting a defense that allowed a season-low 31 rushing yards.

Led the team in tackles with 10 at Cincinnati (10/29) for a defense that allowed only 73 rushing yards.

Collected a team-high 13 tackles at Detroit (11/5) in addition to his first sack of the season.

Tallied his fourth straight double-digit tackle game with 15 at Baltimore (11/19).

Posted nine tackles and one sack (nine yards) vs. New Orleans (11/26).

Led the team in tackles with a season-high 18 at Tampa Bay (12/10). The 18 tackles ties his second-highest single-game tackle total (at New Orleans 11/16/03).

Recorded a team-high 13 tackles vs. Dallas (12/16).

2005 (FALCONS)

Made fifth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance (ties team record) despite switching to MLB in Week 6 because of injuries, starting all 16 games for the fifth year in a row.

Finished the season with a team-high 150 tackles in addition to establishing career-highs in interceptions (4) and passes defensed (10). Also recorded one fumble recovery and tied a career-high with 3.5 sacks.

Recorded 12 tackles and his first sack of the season at Seattle (9/18).

Posted eight tackles, one sack and one interception vs. Minnesota (10/2) in his 100th career game. The sack was part of a nine-sack effort by Atlanta, which was one shy of the team record. He also became the first Falcons player to record a sack and interception in the same game since DE Patrick Kerney accomplished the feat vs. St. Louis (9/24/00).

Started his first game of the season at MLB in place of an injured Ed Hartwell (Achilles) at New Orleans (10/16) and led the linebacker corps with eight tackles in addition to posting his second interception of the season.

Led team with 12 tackles and two passes defensed, one of which was tipped to S Bryan Scott for an interception, at Carolina (12/4).

Established a career-high with his fourth interception of the season at Tampa Bay (12/24) in addition to tallying a team-high 12 tackles.

Tallied one sack, one pass defensed and a team-high 10 tackles vs. Carolina (1/1) in the season finale.

2004 (FALCONS)

Earned Pro Bowl honors for the fourth straight year after totaling a team-high 144 tackles. Also added 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three interceptions as he led the team in tackles 10 times.

Totaled 10 tackles vs. Arizona (9/26), while helping lead a defensive charge that produced six sacks, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

Recorded a team-high 10 tackles along with one forced fumble at Carolina (10/3) in a defensive effort that limited the Panthers to 10 points.

Registered 10 tackles and one interception vs. San Diego (10/17) as he helped limit RB LaDainian Tomlinson to 64 yards on 23 carries (2.8 avg.).

Recorded nine tackles and his first sack since the 2001 season vs. Tampa Bay (11/14).

Posted 11 tackles apiece vs. New Orleans (11/28) and vs. Oakland (12/12).

Registered two forced fumbles, one sack and a season-high with 12 tackles vs. Carolina (12/18).

Had five tackles, one forced fumble and one sack in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. St. Louis (1/15/05).

2003 (FALCONS)

Named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl after registering a team-high 207 total tackles and career-high 130 solo stops in 16 starts. Also posted two fumble recoveries.

Posted a season-high 18 tackles at New Orleans (11/16), the second highest total since he recorded 22 stops at Green Bay (9/8/02).

Registered 17 tackles apiece vs. New York Giants (11/9), at Tampa Bay (12/20) and vs. Jacksonville (12/28).

2002 (FALCONS)

Earned second straight Pro Bowl nod after leading the team with a career-high 212 tackles. Also added two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one blocked field goal.

Collared 10 or more tackles in all 16 starts for the first time in his career.

Became the fifth Falcons player to total 200 tackles in a season, following LB Tommy Nobis (296 in 1966), LB Fulton Kuykendall (284 in 1978), LB Buddy Curry (229 in 1983) and LB Jessie Tuggle (201 in '90, 207 in '91).

Established a new career-high with 22 tackles at Green Bay (9/8). The 22 tackles were the most by a Falcons player since LB Jessie Tuggle had 22 vs. New Orleans on September 29, 1991.

Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts vs. New Orleans (11/17) when he collected 15 stops and one fumble recovery.

Blocked his first-career field goal at Minnesota (12/1).

2001 (FALCONS)

Started all 16 games for the first time in his career and did not miss a play on defense in 957 total snaps as he made the transition to middle linebacker.

Led the team with 167 tackles in addition to registering two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, nine passes defensed and 3.5 sacks.

Became the first Pro Bowl player from the Falcons roster since 1998 when six players were voted to Hawaii.

Opening day start at San Francisco (9/9) marked the first time since 1989 a Falcons player other than Tuggle had lined up at middle linebacker.

Registered 15 tackles and one sack from the middle linebacker debut.

Named Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career at New Orleans (10/21) after recording 12 tackles, one sack and two passes defensed.

Had a key interception vs. Dallas (11/11) to seal a 20-13 win with 0:16 remaining on Atlanta's 30-yard line.

2000 (FALCONS)

Totaled 39 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble in five starts before suffering a sprained foot at Philadelphia (10/1). Placed on Injured Reserve November 1.

1999 (FALCONS)

Played and started in 13 games, finishing fourth on the team with 95 tackles in addition to posting two sacks and two passes defensed.

Made first career start vs. Minnesota (9/12) and tallied eight tackles.

Recorded first career sack vs. Baltimore (10/3).

1998 (FALCONS)

Played in 15 games and posted 32 tackles, one interception, two forced fumbles, and five passes defensed as he served as the team's nickel linebacker in passing situations throughout the season.

Tallied eight tackles in the NFC Championship Game at Minnesota (1/17/99).

COLLEGE

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.

Had two of the top tackle seasons in Georgia Tech history with 147 and 146, respectively, as a junior and sophomore.

Collected 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.

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.

Closed out collegiate career with 15 tackles and one interception to help the Yellow Jackets defeat West Virginia in the Carquest Bowl.

PERSONAL

Served as the team captain and co-team MVP at East Coweta (Senoia, GA) High School, totaling 250 tackles and 53 receptions for 622 yards with seven touchdowns in his career.

Founded The Keith Brooking Children's Foundation in 2003 to serve foster children and the agencies who assist and support them throughout metro Atlanta.

Has helped the Atlanta Community Food Bank raise funds and collect food for the last six years through the Player Performance Pledge. As the official team spokesperson for the ACFB, Brooking coordinates the Bird for a Bird turkey drive and prepares holiday meals with other Atlanta celebrities during the Great Thanksgiving Dish.

Named Falcons 2002 Man of the Year for his extensive community involvement.

Supporter of East Coweta High School as he holds a yearly golf tournament in the offseason with proceeds going to the school's athletic department. A plaque honoring the annual 'Keith Brooking Most Dedicated Athlete Award' hangs in the school's front lobby.

Owns a 180-pound Bull Mastiff dog that he named, Butkus, and a black Labrador retriever named, Nobis. This self-described 'throwback' player and lifelong NFL fan named his dogs after two of the most feared linebackers in their day, Dick Butkus and ex-Falcons great, Tommy Nobis.

Boasts a big family fan base that includes mother, Brenda Hembree, and father Harvey Brooking. His father often travels to road games to watch his son play. He also has three brothers and sisters.

One of few NFL players to play his entire football career in the same state (high school, college, pro).

Favorite Falcons player growing up was LB Jessie Tuggle. Received a framed autographed Tuggle jersey from his family as a 25th birthday present, which currently hangs in his game room.

Born Keith Howard Brooking on October 30, 1975 in Senoia, Georgia. He and his wife, Holly, live in Atlanta.