NFL’s Dr. Doom found passion in teaching

HOUSTON• Robert Brazile was so feared as a linebacker during his career with the Houston Oilers that he earned the nickname Dr. Doom.

In his retirement, he found contentment in a vastly different line of work that he believes was even more challenging than chasing down quarterbacks for a living.

“It was more difficult being a teacher,” he said. “I was a middle school special ed teacher and it was a challenge every day to find out something to build the trust, the love and the care for these kids.”

Though he turned in his Dr. Doom persona decades ago, he’ll revisit the success of his first career on Saturday when he’ll be one of eight men inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Brazile, 65, was drafted sixth overall in 1975 out of Jackson State and was voted Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was the anchor of the 3-4 defensive scheme which coach Bum Phillips used and was a Pro Bowl selection in seven straight seasons from 1976-1982. Brazile was one of the first players to rush quarterbacks from the outside linebacker position.

Phillips, who died in 2013, said Brazile was “Lawrence Taylor before Lawrence Taylor.”

Brazile’s early years with the Oilers were made special by the presence of Phillips, the cowboy-hatwearing, folksy-talking Texan, who was fired after the team lost in the wild-card round in 1980.

“Bum was such an organizer of men,” Brazile said.

Brazile is credited with 11 career sacks, but certainly had many more. Sacks didn’t become an official statistic until 1982.

Brazile is a senior selection into the Hall of Fame, which honours those whose careers ended at least 25 years ago. Brazile can hardly wait for Saturday’s induction.

“I’ve got a grand speech for the Hall of Fame that I hope everyone enjoys,” he said, “and I’m going to embrace it all.”