He was selected in the 1953 National Football League (NFL) draft by the Chicago Cardinals but left in training camp to begin a coaching career.

[3] He attended St. John's High School and was a fullback and placekicker on the football team, playing in the first three seasons after the program was revived following World War II.

[4][5][6] Brocato was one of the area's leading scorers in 1947 and earned All-City honors; he was team captain as a senior in 1948.

[1][5][11] He received more playing time on defense as a junior in 1951 and also served as their placekicker, gaining a reputation as one of the best college football kickers in clutch situations.

[12] For making the kicks when it mattered, Brocato was heralded as one of the nation's best "clutch" kickers; without "his toe sav[ing] the day" against SMU, Arkansas and Texas A&M, Baylor would have compiled a mediocre 6–4 mark, but instead, they went 8–1–1 and made their first major bowl game in school history.

[12][15][16] Including a 17–14 bowl loss against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Brocato finished the season having gone 25 for 35 on extra points and one for two on field goals.

[12] Brocato, known as "the Toe" or "the Foot", was named team co-captain as a senior in 1952 and opened the season by scoring two extra points and the game-winning field goal in Baylor's 17–14 win against Wake Forest.

"[12] In addition to playing college football, Brocato was a backup catcher to Larry Isbell on the baseball team and competed at several Golden Gloves tournaments as a boxer.

[32] After four seasons at Haynesville, Brocato was named head football coach at St. John's High School, his alma mater, in 1958.

[43] Jesuit finally became state champions under Brocato in 1967 while compiling a 13–0 record, for which he was named the Class AA coach of the year.

[45] Brocato resigned his post in 1969 to accept the position of defensive coordinator for the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks under head coach John Symank, finishing his stint at Jesuit with 19 consecutive wins in district play and an overall record of 75–36–9 over 11 seasons.

[47][50] After Texas–Arlington started the 1972 season with six straight losses, the Mavericks defeated Southwestern Louisiana, 7–0, and Brocato was carried off the field by his players.

[52] Following the 1973 season, he resigned to become a scout for the Houston Oilers, despite being one of the candidates for the vacant head coaching position at Texas–Arlington.

[55] He was with the team for 599 games; worked under 10 head coaches, seven general managers, and two owners; and gained a reputation as one of the greatest scouts in the history of the sport.

[56][57] Brocato eventually moved up to national coordinator of college scouting with the Oilers/Titans, overseeing players around the country while focusing on the southwest states.

[59] Some who worked with him recalled that Brocato would write his reports on players using a pen, not a pencil, as he was so sure he was correct in his observations.

[55] Brocato mentored many scouts during his career and many figures whom he worked with would go on to call him "legendary" and advocate for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"[60] Brocato was responsible for the Oilers/Titans drafting four players who went on to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, including Earl Campbell, whom he declared was his best pick.

[60] He recalled in 2015 that he attended the Cotton Bowl Classic to scout Campbell, and after seeing him run for the game's only touchdown in the second quarter – one that would help Texas upset No.

[57] He was on the preliminary list for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the classes of 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2012, and was a semifinalist in the contributor category for 2023 and 2024.

[55][62][63] The NFL named the C. O. Brocato Memorial Award in his honor, given to those who have "dedicated a lifetime of service to the scouting community".

[55] The Titans showed a video and held a moment of silence prior to their last preseason game of the 2015 season in honor of Brocato.

[67] In remembrance of him, at the 2016 NFL Combine, the letters "CO" were painted on the field and at the end of the 40-yard dash an empty chair was kept with a Titans hat and jacket.