Quick Facts
PiscesBiography
Barry Macey Brooks (born March 2, 1975) is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears. He was also a co-owner and wide receivers coach for the Kane County Dawgs of the Continental Indoor Football League. He played college football at James Madison University.
Early years
Brooks attended Kecoughtan High School, where he was a four-sport letterman (football, baseball, basketball and track). As a senior, he tallied 27 receptions for 620 yards and 8 touchdowns, receiving All-Peninsula district, All-Eastern region and honorable-mention All-state honors at wide receiver, while being the runner up to Allen Iverson for the Daily Press Peninsula Athlete of the year award.
He was an All-district selection in baseball, helping his team reach the state finals. He also helped the basketball team win the regional title.
College career
Brooks accepted a football scholarship from James Madison University. He appeared in 10 games as a true freshman. The next year he became a starter, posting 26 receptions (second on the team) for 552 receiving yards (led the team) and 5 touchdowns (led the team). As a junior, he was third on the team with 32 receptions for 542 yards and 6 touchdowns (second on the team).
As a senior, he led the team with 56 receptions for 828 receiving yards, while breaking the school records for most touchdowns in a career (25) and in a season (14). He finished his college career with 118 receptions for 2,014 yards and 25 touchdowns.
He played right field for three seasons, starting 119 out of 145 games. As a freshman, he hit for a .307 average with 7 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs and 21 RBIs. In 1995, he hit for a .266 average with 10 doubles, one triple, 5 home runs and 27 RBIs, while being a part of the team that won the CAA regular season title and advanced to the NCAA South regional.
As a junior, he hit for a .298 average with 13 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs and 34 RBIs. He was drafted twice by professional baseball, in the second round of the 1993 MLB Amateur Draft by the San Francisco Giants and in the 55th round of the 1996 Amateur Draft by the Kansas City Royals.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Brooks was selected in the fourth round (127th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He was impressing during training camp until breaking his right forearm three places during the fourth quarter of a 34-31 win over the St. Louis Rams and being placed on the injured reserve list.
The next season, he was a candidate for the second receiver role opposite Michael Irvin, but had problems with consistency and was waived on August 31 to make room for wide receiver Patrick Jeffers.
Chicago Bears
On September 1, 1998, he was signed by the Chicago Bears to their practice squad. On October 7, he was promoted to the active roster. In 1999, he registered 14 passes for 160 yards in the first 9 games (2 starts), before suffering a knee injury and being placed on the injured reserve list on November 9. He wasn't re-signed after the season.
Oakland Raiders
On April 21, 2002, he was signed as a free agent by the Oakland Raiders after being out of football for a year. He was released on June 15.
Coaching career
In 2012, Brooks joined the ownership group of the Kane County Dawgs, an expansion franchise of the Continental Indoor Football League. He also served as the team's wide receivers coach, as well as strength and conditioning coordinator. The team would only play one game in its history, as the following week the league announced on their website that the franchise was "indefinitely suspending operations" to protect the integrity of the league.