Brooks led the Warner Robins High School Demons to both state and national championships in 1976.

Brooks was selected with the 24th pick in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft, and played professionally with the San Diego Chargers (1981–1983), the Cincinnati Bengals (1984–1991), the Cleveland Browns (1992) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992).

He was a key participant in two of the most famous games in NFL lore during his rookie season with the Chargers: The Epic in Miami and the Freezer Bowl.

Between 1968 (when John David Crow and Timmy Brown retired) and 2005 (Marshall Faulk), Brooks was the only member of the 30/30 club (30+ rushing and receiving touchdowns, accomplished by only seven players).

[6] Though he started every game in 1985, he and fullback Larry Kinnebrew finished the season with almost identical carry and yardage stats.

He was traded to the Browns in 1992, then to the Buccaneers midway through the season, retiring after a minor injury in the team's sixth game.