The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Honors Court has selected Keith Brooking for induction into the state’s athletic Hall of Fame. Brooking was chosen from a starting pool of over 150 nominees through a three round screening process.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 25, at Macon City Auditorium.
A graduate of East Coweta High School, linebacker Brooking went on to become one of the best defensive players in the nation during the 1990s while playing for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. With 467 tackles, he finished his collegiate career as the leading tackler in Georgia Tech history.
The twelfth overall selection in the 1998 NFL draft by his hometown team, the Atlanta Falcons, Brooking became a fixture of the Falcons’ defense for the next 11 years. Ranked as one of the 20 greatest Falcons ever by the AJC, Brooking appeared in Super Bowl XXXIII and is considered one of the greatest Falcon linebackers of all-time, along with fellow GSHF members Tommy Nobis and Jessie Tuggle.
A five-time pro-bowler, Brooking went on to captain the defense of the Dallas Cowboys and retired after one season with the Denver Broncos. He played in over 200 games during his professional career and was one of the most durable linebackers in the NFL.
Brooking has also given back to his home state by establishing The Keith Brooking Children’s Foundation in 2003, which served the needs of foster children in metro Atlanta. He has received numerous accolades from the Falcons and the NFL for his leadership and community involvement, including the Falcons “Man of the Year” award in 2002.
“Keith Brooking was not only a great player, but he is a great person. In getting to know the Coweta community, I hope they really come out to support him at the Induction Ceremony. He deserves it,” said Derek Waugh, President and CEO of the GSHF.
Brooking is one of eight inductees who will be honored at the banquet. He is joined by golfer Laura Coble, tennis coach Manuel Diaz, football and track athlete Willie Gault, basketball player Matt Harpring, football player Garrison Hearst, athletic leader/golf coach Liz Murphey, and football player Jeff Saturday.
The weekend will begin with the GSHF Golf Classic at Idle Hour Country Club on Friday, February 24th; the GSHF’s annual FanFest will be held Saturday afternoon from 1-2:30 p.m. at the museum.
Tickets to the banquet may be purchased by calling the Hall of Fame offices at 478.752.1585. For more information regarding the Induction Ceremony banquet, the Class of 2017, and all of the weekend’s events, visit www.gshf.org.
