Ahmad Brooks is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for over a decade. He began his football career in college, playing for the University of Virginia from 2002 to 2005. During his time there, he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2005.
Brooks was then drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. However, he was released by the team before the start of the regular season due to concerns about his off-field behavior. He was then picked up by the San Francisco 49ers, where he spent the majority of his NFL career.
During his time with the 49ers, Brooks established himself as a key player on the team's defense. He was known for his ability to rush the quarterback and his strong tackling skills. He was also a durable player, appearing in all 16 regular season games in six of his eight seasons with the team.
In 2012, Brooks helped lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl, where they ultimately lost to the Baltimore Ravens. He had a standout performance in the NFC Championship game that year, recording two sacks and a forced fumble.
Brooks was released by the 49ers in 2017 and signed with the Green Bay Packers, but he was released by the team before the start of the regular season. He then signed with the Buffalo Bills, but he was released by the team after just one game.
Overall, Brooks had a successful NFL career, recording 389 tackles, 51.5 sacks, and eight forced fumbles. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2013 and was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2012. Despite his success on the field, Brooks also faced some off-field issues during his career, including a 2008 arrest for assault and a 2015 incident in which he was accused of sexual assault (charges were ultimately not filed in that case).
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