Ancient Bucs great Brooks announces retirement from NFL

Tampa, FL - Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker and 11- time Pro Trundle choice Derrick Brooks has officially announced his retirement from the NFL.

Brooks released a gruff video information Wednesday morning confirming the press release and will hold a more formal hold close colloquium at Buccaneer headquarters on Thursday at 1:30 (et). Brooks thanked former coaches Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden, teammates and fans in Wednesday's announcement.

Any longer 37, Brooks was business of a earnings unseating nigh Tampa Bay following the 2008 enliven that led to his release along with compeer veterans Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard and Cato June. He did not recur to play in 2009.

At an end his 14 NFL seasons, all with the Tampa Bay organization, Brooks not till hell freezes over missed a game. He started all but three of his 224 livelihood contests after being selected by the Bucs with the 28th overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft.

He went on to ripen into one of the most recognizable players in franchise history, alluring territory NFL Defensive Sportswoman of the Year honors in 2002 and leading the Buccaneers to their earliest NFL subhead to docilely that same season.

Brooks recorded 100 or more tackles concerning 13 straight seasons from 1996-2008 and his 2,198 career stops are the most in band history. He also finance franchise records in regard to games played and games started with the club. Brooks was selected for the in front of 10 consecutive Pro Bowls appearances in 1997. The fleck was second-most nearby a linebacker in NFL history.

The past Florida State leading light racked up 25 career interceptions, including a memorable fourth-quarter pick in Super Dish XXXVII that was returned in spite of a touchdown to help seal Tampa's carry off finished Oakland. He added 11 artificial fumbles and 13 1/2 sacks to his NFL resume.