Karl Brooks Bio
Karl Dermarad Brooks is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). Born on May 8, 2000, in Lansing, Michigan, Brooks attended J. W. Sexton High School before playing college football at Bowling Green, where he developed into one of the most productive interior linemen in the Mid-American Conference. Selected by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, he has become a reliable contributor on the defensive line and on special teams.
Early Life and Background
Karl Dermarad Brooks grew up in Lansing, Michigan, a city with a strong gridiron tradition in the Midwest. He attended J. W. Sexton High School in Lansing, where he played football and developed into a promising defensive prospect. Standing about 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing roughly 296 pounds, Brooks possessed the size and frame that college recruiters look for in an interior defensive lineman.
Coming out of high school, Brooks was not heavily recruited by major Division I programs. He initially committed to play college football at Grand Valley State, a Division II program in Michigan, before later changing his commitment. After receiving an offer from Bowling Green, Brooks opted to join the Falcons, a decision that would shape his football future and set the stage for a standout collegiate career.
Path to American Football
Brooks’s path to high-level American football began with his transfer from Grand Valley State to Bowling Green. Once he arrived on campus, he quickly proved he could compete at the FBS level, working his way into the defensive tackle rotation early in his collegiate career. His combination of quickness off the snap, length, and relentless motor made him a disruptive presence in the backfield.
Over the course of his time with the Bowling Green Falcons, Brooks developed into one of the top defensive linemen in the Mid-American Conference. His growth as a player was marked by consistent production in tackles for loss and sacks, which eventually caught the attention of NFL scouts evaluating the 2023 draft class. He was projected as a fourth to fifth round pick, ultimately landing with the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round.
Karl Brooks Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
During his first seasons at Bowling Green, Brooks worked primarily as a rotational defensive tackle, learning the Falcons’ defensive scheme and adjusting to the speed of the college game. He spent time developing his technique as a pass rusher and run defender, gaining valuable experience behind more established veterans on the defensive line.
These early years laid the foundation for the breakout that followed. Brooks steadily increased his snap count and production, and by the end of his second collegiate season he had positioned himself as a key piece of the Falcons’ defensive front.
Bowling Green Breakthrough (2021–2022)
In the 2021 season, Brooks earned third-team All-Mid-American Conference honors, signaling his emergence as a legitimate college standout. His combination of size, leverage, and effort made him difficult for opposing offensive linemen to handle, and he consistently disrupted both the run and passing games.
His best collegiate year came in 2022, when he recorded 50 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, four pass deflections, a fumble recovery, and two forced fumbles. That dominant performance earned him first-team All-MAC recognition and cemented his status as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the conference. Across his entire Bowling Green career, Brooks totaled 167 tackles, 46 tackles for loss, 27.5 sacks, one interception, five pass deflections, five forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
Green Bay Packers Era (2023–Present)
Brooks was selected in the sixth round, 179th overall, by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he signed his rookie contract on May 5, 2023. Joining a young and retooling Packers defense, he slotted into the interior defensive line rotation and contributed on both defense and special teams from his rookie season onward.
One of the defining moments of his early professional career came on November 17, 2024, against the Chicago Bears in Week 11. With the Packers leading 20–19, Brooks blocked Chicago kicker Cairo Santos’s game-winning field goal attempt as time expired in regulation, sealing a 20–19 Packers victory and improving their record to 7–3. His block earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors and prevented the Packers from finishing 0–6 against the NFC North division, as they ultimately finished 1–5 against the division.
Driving Style and Strengths
Brooks plays with a quick first step and excellent leverage, traits that have made him effective against the run and as an interior pass rusher. His motor and willingness to pursue plays down the line have translated well to special teams, where his effort and instincts produced a game-winning blocked kick in 2024. As he continues to refine his craft in Green Bay, his combination of physicality and hustle remains his most valuable asset.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the standout moments of his young NFL career, Brooks’s blocked field goal against the Chicago Bears in November 2024 stands out as a signature play. That block not only preserved a pivotal divisional win but also earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition, marking one of the earliest career milestones for the former sixth-round pick.
Karl Brooks Career Wins
Across his time at Bowling Green and his early NFL seasons, Karl Dermarad Brooks has compiled a series of meaningful team victories and individual honors. While defensive statistics often go underappreciated, his ability to disrupt opposing offenses and contribute on special teams has produced several memorable wins for his teams.
Green Bay Packers Highlights
In his two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Brooks has contributed to numerous regular-season victories, including the dramatic 20–19 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 11 of the 2024 season. That result, secured by his blocked field goal as time expired, stands as his most prominent NFL victory moment to date. His first NFL season in 2023 also included several wins as Green Bay continued its post-Aaron Rodgers transition under a new quarterback and coaching staff.
Other Wins and Performances
During his collegiate career, Brooks helped lead the Bowling Green Falcons to several conference wins, highlighted by his 2022 first-team All-MAC campaign. While Bowling Green did not capture a MAC championship during his tenure, Brooks’s individual production consistently helped his team compete against some of the conference’s top programs.
Karl Brooks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Karl Dermarad Brooks was raised in Lansing, Michigan, where his family roots helped shape his path into football. Specific details about his parents and broader family background are not publicly verified.
Personal Life
Brooks focuses much of his energy on his professional football career with the Green Bay Packers. Public details about a spouse or children are not confirmed. Off the field, he has established himself as a dedicated professional committed to refining his craft and contributing to his team’s success.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 NFL season, Karl Dermarad Brooks looks to build on the momentum of his breakout 2024 campaign that included the dramatic blocked field goal against the Chicago Bears. As a young interior defensive lineman with two seasons of professional experience, Brooks is expected to take on a larger rotational role along the Packers’ defensive front.
Green Bay’s defense, which finished 2024 at 7–3 before a difficult stretch against the NFC North, will look to Brooks to provide consistent interior pressure and run defense. His production as a pass rusher and his proven value on special teams units make him a versatile contributor who can affect games in multiple phases.
If Brooks continues to develop his technique and conditioning, he has the potential to grow into a long-term starter for the Packers. His combination of size, effort, and football intelligence positions him well for an expanded role in 2025 and beyond.