Brooks played college football for the Virginia State Trojans and was selected in the 14th round of the 1972 NFL draft by the Rams .

Brooks furthered his education and attended Virginia State University, where he was named to the Associated Press Little All-American team as a defensive tackle in 1971.

That season Brooks was All-NFC as selected by Pro Football Weekly, and Second-team All-Pro by Newspaper Enterprise Association.

For the second season in a row, Brooks led all Ram defensive linemen in tackles with 73, not including his 11 sacks, which trailed only Jack Youngblood and Fred Dryer, the team leaders.

[5] Brooks rebounded in 1976 was named to the Pro Bowl and was voted Second-team All-NFC by United Press International.

His 74 tackles again led Ram defensive linemen, with 13 of those going for a loss, to go along with his 14½ sacks which tied him for the team lead with Jack Youngblood.

In 1978 Brooks was named Second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press and [Newspaper Enterprise Association and First-team All-NFC by United Press International and Pro Football Weekly despite missing the last 2 games of the season plus the NFC championship game with a knee injury.

Ended season by playing in Super Bowl XIV with a torn up ankle as Rams lost to the world champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

That marked the sixth season in seven that Brooks attained post-season honors, in being either All-Pro, All-NFC, or a Pro Bowl selection.

His line played a major role in Green Bay's Super Bowl XXXI victory when the defense allowed a league low 259.8 yards per game and a meager 3.5-yard per rush average.

As of 2008, Brooks currently serves as the defensive line coach at his alma mater Virginia State University.