Brandon Brooks announced his retirement on Wednesday afternoon and then took questions from the Philly media. The three-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion explained the timing behind his decision.
Brandon Brooks cruised through the first four-plus minutes of his retirement statement on Wednesday, thanking former teammates and coaches in Houston and Philadelphia without losing a bit of his composure.
Then he got to Jeff Stoutland.
Brook was 26 when he signed as a free agent with the Eagles back in 2016 and over the last six years, grew incredibly close to the longtime Eagles offensive line coach.
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“Last, but certainly not least: Jeffrey Stoutland,” Brooks said. “Where do I start? … You took me from being a good player to the best at my position. Even while I was there, you pushed me continuously to strive for more because hungry dogs run faster and always will. Just as you helped me on the field, you helped me off. Through all my struggles and my moments, I could always count on a phone call from you, the topic never being about football but just like and how you could help.”
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OK, he got through that part fine. But at the end there, when Brooks began to talk about Stoutland as a man, not just a coach, things were starting to get tougher.
“You are more than a coach and have been for a while,” Brooks said, before clearing his throat and taking a lengthy pause to compose himself again. “You are family and always will be. Anything, anytime, anywhere, never hesitate to reach out.”
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Brooks, 32, retired on Wednesday. During his 40-minute retirement press conference, he thanked dozens of former teammates, coaches, staff members and just about anyone who meant anything to him during his 10-year NFL career. But he spoke most glowingly of Stoutland.
Stoutland, 59, joined the Eagles in 2013 under Chip Kelly. He stayed on the staff after Chip was fired and Doug Pederson was hired. When Pederson was fired and Nick Sirianni took the job, Sirianni said it was a “no-brainer” to retain Stoutland again. Over his nine seasons in Philly, Stout has become one of the best position coaches in franchise history.
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Brooks made three Pro Bowls in his career but all three came after Stout was his coach. The same holds true for Jason Kelce and Evan Mathis, who had played in the NFL before being coached by Stoutland but never reached their highest level of play until he coached them.
What will Stoutland remember most about Brooks?
“I could say the dominant double team blocks he and Lane Johnson demonstrated time and time again. Or the dominant jump sets in protection,” Stoutland said. “But really, the way he has been able to overcome adversity. He has been dealt adversity time and time again. From anxiety to injuries … it can break a person. But it didn’t break him, it made him stronger. It’s a lesson to everyone in that room, that building, the city.”
It’s true that Brooks did overcome a lot during his time in Philly. And for Stoutland to say he’ll remember that more than Brooks’ technique — and Stout really loves OL technique — is very noteworthy.
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On Wednesday, Brooks was asked about his first impressions of Stoutland after their first meeting in 2016. Brooks told a story that when he arrived in Philly as a $40 million free agent, Stoutland told him he watched his tape and he needed to get his hands inside. He then rattled off a bunch of other coaching points.
Brooks thought to himself, “This is the coach I needed.”
Throughout his career in Philly, Brooks said he always enjoyed seeing Stoutland and getting coached by him. He said the same sentiment is shared by his fellow offensive linemen. One of the most unique things about Stoutland isn’t his obsession with the minute details of offensive line technique; it’s that he coaches everyone in his room. He pushes his players to get better, whether they’re a perennial Pro Bowler or fringe a practice squad player.
“When it comes to this game, when it comes to offensive line, just like Stout says, hungry dogs run faster,” Brooks said. “Never get tired of doing the basics. Never get tired of doing the small things over and over because it allows the bigger things to become attainable. Like I said, that’s always something I tried to hang my hat on. Just let it take me as far as it would take me.”