Derrick Brooks was in the twilight of his spectacular football career when making a promise to his mother that remains part of his philanthropic efforts.
Geraldine Mitchell was only 52 in 2007 when breast cancer took her life. At that time, Brooks had established himself as one of the greatest linebackers in the NFL history, during a 14-year career, all with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It led to his 2014 enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame at Canton, Ohio.
“My mother passed 20 years ago, but she had told me to never forget where I came from, never forget where I grew up and continue to help others in Pensacola,” said Brooks, prior to hosting the sixth annual Derrick Brooks Celebrity Classic golf event on Aug. 17 at Pensacola Country Club.
He continues to expand that reach.
While his business career includes varied roles and continues moving like an all-out blitz, Brooks, 53, part of the Blue Wahoos ownership group, juggles work in two cities with equal zest.
In Pensacola, he’s involved in eight different partnerships to help others. These are: The Dixon School of Arts and Sciences, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, O.J. Semmes Elementary School, Par Four Golf Club, First Tee Gulf Coast, Nonie’s Place by Covenant Care, Lighthouse Christian College and Communities Caring at Christmas.
All of this is addition to his new role as University of South Florida athletic department’s chief operating officer – a position he accepted on October 30. One of his sons works at USF; his youngest daughter, DaNia, is a junior infielder of the USF softball team.
Brooks has made Tampa his full-time home since being selected by the Buccaneers as the 28th overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft.
“Derrick left Pensacola but he never forgot Pensacola,” said Bonita Pulido, executive director of Derrick Brooks Charities. “And he never forgot his love for the people here.”
The gratitude from the community was on full display at this year’s golf tournament. There were 29 teams of five-to-six players in each group on Aug. 17. The tournament entries sold out five months in advance.
“This was the first year we had a waiting list,” said Pulido, who also serves as tournament director for the golf tournaments Brooks hosts in Tampa and Pensacola. “I got a call (days before) from (local executive) and his cousin who wanted to buy another group to play.
“I had no way to sell it. We were already oversold. We almost did not have enough golf carts for everyone playing in the tournament.
“What has happened is people hearing and learning about it and word of mouth. It takes awhile to get traction. And I think the other part of that is our commitment to the community.
“Because people see that we’re not blowing in and blowing out. We’re here for the long run. And we want to support the programs that are supporting the youth in Pensacola.”
The Blue Wahoos have been a corporate partner in the tournament since its inception. Team president Jonathan Griffith has played in the event every year with members of the team’s front office staff.
In this year’s event, the Blue Wahoos’ two vice presidents, Brandon Miller and Tyler Johnson, both narrowly missed a hole-in-one in the event, but each received closest-to the-pin prizes.
Miller had a 7-iron shot on the 155-yard, No. 4 hole stop 1-foot from the cup. Johnson hit a pitching wedge on the No. 11 par-3 hole to within two feet.
In addition, three Blue Wahoos players, outfielders Colby Shade and Ethan O’Donnell and pitcher Gabe Bierman were guest celebrities playing with different groups. Prior to starting their round, the three Miami Marlins prospects met with former MLB star Gary Sheffield, a Tampa native and nine-time All-Star and 1992 National League batting champion.
Erik Bremer, the Blue Wahoos director of broadcasting and media relations, the voice of the team for five seasons, was also part of the celebrity pairings.
Brooks has been able to rely on former Buccaneers teammates, along friendships built with other NFL players and sports stars, including former players from the Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes, to travel to Pensacola and play in the event.
He’s combined that group with some of Pensacola’s greatest athletes like Michelle Snow, Fred Robbins, Greg Litton -- all of who played this year -- and past year participants Emmitt Smith, Roy Jones Jr., Josh Sitton, Jerry Pate and others.
“I could not do this it without the love and support from all these people who help out,” said Brooks, thanking the celebrity participants during a pairings party dinner Aug. 16 at the Pensacola Beach Hilton. “The whole idea is to have a good time, but also raise the money needed to help our community in Pensacola. Virtually every dollar we make goes back into our partnership we have to serve the community.”
The impact has been significant. At O.J. Semmes Elementary School, a school which had struggled to succeed for years, the commitment Brooks has made is noticeable. Each year he provides new shoes for each student along with other items. He visits and mingles with the kids.
“In three years, the school has gone from an F-rated school to almost a B school right now, which is just fantastic,” Pulido said. “That is a great measuring too.The teachers and administrators there have a very, very difficult job, because these kids come from very hard situations.
“It’s the same situation with our efforts to Dixon Arts and Design. A provide school, but a similar background. At Noni’s House, the Covenant Care facility, this is a program for bereaved kids and their families. We have a served a lot of kids in these programs.
“For Derrick, this is all such a natural thing. When you look back at his life, he’s been a man of his word and a man of commitment. He always promised his mother that he would stay involved in Pensacola, his hometown.”
Brooks continues to uphold the promise.