Chris Brooks Bio
Christopher Brooks is an American professional football running back for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears and BYU Cougars before beginning his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins. Brooks was born on January 11, 2000, in Oceanside, California, and grew up in the same coastal city where he later became a standout high school athlete.
Early Life and Background
Christopher Brooks was born on January 11, 2000, in Oceanside, California, to Christopher Brown Sr. and Raquel Brooks. In 2021, he changed his last name from Brown to his mother’s maiden name, Brooks, formalizing the family name that had long been part of his personal identity. He grew up in Oceanside and attended El Camino High School, where he developed into a four-star recruit according to 247Sports and was ranked as the 12th-best running back in the state of California.
Beyond football, Brooks was also a member of the El Camino High School track and field team. As a 2018 senior, he qualified for the California State Meet in the long jump, an experience that sharpened his speed and explosiveness as an athlete. These early years in Oceanside laid the foundation for his transition to college football at one of the Pac-12’s most competitive programs.
Path to American Football
Brooks signed with the University of California, Berkeley, where he joined the California Golden Bears as a true freshman and appeared in all 13 games off the bench during the 2018 season. His most dramatic early moment came in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl against TCU, when starter Patrick Laird was injured in the first half and Brooks stepped in as the primary running back, totaling 71 all-purpose yards on 14 carries and three receptions.
As a sophomore, Brooks posted career highs across nearly every rushing and receiving category, including 208 carries, 914 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 22 receptions, 166 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns. A 2020 season limited by injuries reduced his role to three games, but he returned for his senior year to rush for 607 yards and six touchdowns while averaging a Cal career-best 5.2 yards per carry. On December 6, 2021, he entered the transfer portal, paving the way for his move to a new program.
Chris Brooks Career
Early Career (2022)
Brooks transferred to Brigham Young University for the 2022 season, joining the BYU Cougars and quickly becoming a focal point of their offense. He appeared in 11 games, starting eight, and averaged 6.28 yards per carry, a mark that ranked fourth all time in Cougars history. On November 26, 2022, he turned in a BYU career-best performance against Stanford, rushing 23 times for 164 yards in a 35–26 win.
To cap his college career, Brooks was selected for the 2023 Hula Bowl in Orlando, where he totaled 101 all-purpose yards and was named the game’s offensive MVP. That performance helped generate NFL interest heading into the 2023 league year.
NFL Breakthrough (2023–2024)
On April 29, 2023, Brooks signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. He made the Dolphins’ final roster, appeared in regular-season action, and was placed on injured reserve on October 20 before being activated on December 19. His rookie season provided a foothold in the league, even as he navigated injuries and a crowded backfield.
The Dolphins released Brooks on September 2, 2024, with an injury settlement, opening the door to his next opportunity. On September 3, 2024, the Green Bay Packers signed him to their practice squad, and just two weeks later, on September 17, they signed him to the active roster. In Week 16 against the New Orleans Saints, Brooks scored his first career NFL touchdown on a one-yard rush, a milestone that cemented his presence in Green Bay’s backfield rotation.
Green Bay Packers Era (2024–Present)
Brooks finished his first season in Green Bay appearing in 15 total games, rushing 36 times for 183 yards while adding 11 receptions for 69 yards. He became a reliable complementary running back, contributing on early downs and in pass protection while learning the team’s offensive system. His first NFL touchdown against New Orleans served as a turning point, validating the work he had put in after his release from Miami.
Entering the 2025 NFL season, Brooks is positioned as part of the Green Bay Packers’ running back room, where his experience in both the Dolphins and Packers systems gives him a clear understanding of NFL-level responsibilities. His combination of pass-catching ability and per-carry efficiency from his BYU days makes him a versatile option for the Packers’ offensive game plan.
Driving Style and Strengths
Brooks brings a balanced skill set to the running back position, combining the patience to read blocks with the burst to finish runs in space. His track-and-field background in the long jump contributes to explosive first-step quickness, while his receiving production at Cal showcased dependable hands. As a complementary back in Green Bay, he has been deployed on designed runs, check-down targets, and short-yardage situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of his early career came during the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl, when an injury to the starter thrust him into the spotlight against TCU. His first NFL touchdown, a one-yard rush against the New Orleans Saints in Week 16 of the 2024 season, marked another key milestone. Winning offensive MVP honors at the 2023 Hula Bowl further underscored his playmaking ability heading into the professional ranks.
Chris Brooks Career Wins
Christopher Brooks has notched his most celebrated professional win in the form of a milestone first NFL touchdown with the Green Bay Packers during the 2024 season. While his career has been defined more by efficient production and roster perseverance than by signature victories, his steady accumulation of carries, receptions, and special-teams reps reflects a player who has consistently delivered when called upon.
BYU Highlights
During the 2022 BYU season, Brooks averaged 6.28 yards per carry, the fourth-best mark in Cougars history, a clear measure of his impact in a single college campaign. His career-best 164 rushing yards against Stanford in November 2022 stood as one of the brightest individual performances of his college career. Winning offensive MVP at the 2023 Hula Bowl added a national all-star showcase to his résumé.
Other Wins & Performances
At the University of California, Brooks posted a 914-yard rushing season as a sophomore and added 166 receiving yards, demonstrating a dual-threat capability that translated to the next level. He also qualified for the California State Meet in the long jump as a high school senior, an athletic achievement that complemented his football development.
Chris Brooks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Christopher Brooks is the son of Christopher Brown Sr. and Raquel Brooks. In 2021, he legally changed his last name from Brown to his mother’s maiden name, Brooks, aligning his public identity with his immediate family. The support of his parents helped shape his path from Oceanside high school football to the NFL.
Personal Life
Brooks is known for his close connection to his mother, Raquel Brooks, whose maiden name he adopted. Public details about his marital status, spouse, or children are not available, and he has kept his personal life largely out of the public spotlight as he builds his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Christopher Brooks is expected to be part of the Green Bay Packers’ running back rotation, where his pass-catching skills and per-carry efficiency from his BYU days provide a useful complement to the team’s lead back. His 2024 production in 15 games, including 36 carries for 183 yards and 11 receptions for 69 yards, gave the coaching staff a clear baseline for his usage heading into the new year.
The Packers will likely lean on Brooks in situational roles, including third downs and short-yardage packages, while continuing to develop his overall role within the offense. With a full offseason in Green Bay’s system, he is positioned to expand his snap count and push for more carries in 2025. His first career touchdown in Week 16 of 2024 offered a glimpse of the production he is capable of when given the opportunity.
Brooks’ journey from undrafted free agent in Miami to active-roster contributor in Green Bay underscores a career defined by perseverance. If he stays healthy and continues to refine his game, 2025 could mark the season in which he transitions from complementary back to a more consistent feature piece of the Packers’ offensive attack.