Aaron Brooks

COLLEGE: Virginia

POSITION: Quarterback

BORN: March 24, 1976 in Newport News, Va.

JOINED SAINTS: 2000

YEARS WITH SAINTS: 2000–2005

Aaron Brooks' career background

Quarterback Aaron Brooks was selected to the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2014 after a six-year playing career in Black and Gold that included the first playoff game win in franchise history.

Acquired by New Orleans from the Green Bay Packers ahead in the 2000 preseason, Brooks started his first NFL game in Week 11 at the home of defending Super Bowl champions, the St. Louis Rams. The 31-24 victory made him the first quarterback in NFL history to defeat the defending champions on the road in his first career start. Six weeks later, Brooks would led the NFC West champions to another victory over the Rams in an NFC Wild Card playoff game at the Superdome, notching New Orleans first playoff victory in franchise history and becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to eliminate the defending champions in his first career postseason start.

In 2001, Brooks saw his first full season as a starting quarterback for the Black and Gold. He threw a then franchise-record tying 26 touchdowns. He spent four more years in New Orleans, ending his Saints career with 19,156 passing yards (third in franchise history), 120 passing touchdowns (second in franchise history), and 10 300-yard passing games (second most in franchise history). Brooks also set the then-franchise record with 441 passing yards vs Denver, Dec. 3, 2000, and shares the team record for pass attempts in a game with Drew Brees (60).

After New Orleans, Brooks spent one year with the Oakland Raiders in 2006 before the conclusion of his playing career. He now works in property development in his home state of Virginia.

Aaron Brooks' college career

Brooks was drafted by Green Bay in the fourth round (131 overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft out of the University of Virginia. In his four years playing for the Cavaliers, he completed 369 of 683 passes for 5,344 yards and 25 touchdowns. During the 1998 season finale at the home of rival school Virginia Tech, Brooks engineered the biggest comeback in school history, leading a team that was trailing 29-7 at the half to outscore the Hokies 29-3 in the second half and earning them a bid to that year's Peach Bowl.

Aaron Brooks' career honors

New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame