The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Linebacker Brooking among hall class
‘A great honor for me and my family,’ ex-Falcons star says.
Former Falcons Pro Bowl linebacker Keith Brooking will be inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame on Friday.
“A great honor for me and my family,” Brooking said. “You look at the list of athletes that have been inducted to the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame, just to be mentioned with them is something that is very special to me.”
Brooking has been playing football since he was 6 years old in Senoia. He later played at East Coweta High. From there he went to Georgia Tech and played four seasons, setting the school record for career tackles (467). He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame in 2007.
In 1998, Brooking was drafted 12th overall by his hometown team, the Falcons. He was a part of the 1998 Super Bowl team in his rookie season and recorded eight tackles in the NFC championship game against the Vikings.
Brooking ended up as the Falcons’ defensive leader and played 11 years with the team before stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. He finished his career with 1,279 tackles, 22 sacks and five Pro Bowl selections.
Brooking has lots of memories from his time with the Falcons, but his most memorable event was being drafted.
“I told my dad I wanted to play in the NFL, and it was very far-fetched at that moment,” Brooking said. “Just the hard work and support from so many of my family, friends and coaches helped me along the way and had an impact on my life. The fact that I was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, my hometown team ... wow, I’ll never forget that moment.”
“I did not accept the invitation to go to New York from the commissioner to be a part of the draft. I wanted to spend it with my family, friends and hometown of Senoia, Georgia ... at my mother’s home and all the people that I mentioned that impacted my life and my football career, and to be able to share it with them is a moment I’ll never forget.”
Brooking reflected on his favorite things about Atlanta, a city that has always felt like home. “It’s home for me, my family and friends, and so many wonderful memories and not just from the game of football,” Brooking said. “Throughout my life, I’ve spent the first 33 years in that area, and it’s had such a huge positive impact on me and my family.”
“I could spend two months away, and as soon as I step right back into my town it’s vibrant and it’s alive. There’s so much to do, and it offers so much from a sports standpoint, from entertainment and from outdoors, which I love. It just offers so many things that are right there at your fingertips.”
Brooking performed well on the field, but he has also given back to the city off the field. In 2003 he created the Keith Brooking Children’s Foundation to serve the needs of foster children.
“Giving everything that I could possibly give both on and off the field,” Brooking said when asked how he’d want to be remembered in the city. “To make an impact to my respected teams that I played for and my community. I tried to do that, and I have no regrets from that standpoint. I laid it on the line for my team and the community every day, and made a positive impact as much as I possibly could.”