Derrick Brooks Recognized As NFL’s Best-Ever Weakside LB

Here’s what Dave Wannstedt had to say about Derrick Brooks being his top weakside linebacker of all-time.

Derrick Brooks had 25 interceptions. That’s the first thing that jumps out. He is also third all-time in career tackles. So, this guy made plays. He is a complete player and an every down linebacker.

In the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Tampa 2 defense, which is zone, a lot is asked of the linebackers. You have got to be instinctive enough, be able to recognize routes and line up against a slot receiver, a tight end and a running back.

When you look at the famous Tony Dungy Tampa 2 defense, the guy that really made it work and was one of the cornerstone pieces was Brooks.

Derrick Brooks joined Baltimore’s legend middle linebacker Ray Lewis and the late, great Junior Seau, who played 20 seasons in the NFL for San Diego (13 seasons), Miami (three) and New England (four) as Wannstedt’s all-time linebackers. All three linebackcers are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Wannstedt was the head coach of the Chicago Bears from 1993-98, and coached against Brooks, as the Bears and Bucs both played in the old NFC Central division back then. Wannstedt was also the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2000-04, and later served as the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh from 2005-10. He also served as a defensive coordinator in both the NFL and college ranks.

His last coaching gig was in Tampa Bay in 2013 when he served as the Bucs special teams coordinator under Greg Schiano. You can view Wannstedt’s entire all-time front seven by clicking here to visit The33rdTeam.com.

Derrick Brooks Is The Most Decorated Buccaneer Of All-Time

In addition to Derrick Brooks’ Pro Bowl berths, All-Pro recognition and NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, Brooks also made the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He’s still the Bucs’ all-time leading tackler (2,198), and his 25 career interceptions rank fifth in franchise history. Brooks’ 221 career starts rank second in team history behind Ronde Barber.

Brooks was also named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2000 and inducted into the Bucs Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.