Chris Brooks Bio
Christopher Brooks is an American professional football running back for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears of the University of California, Berkeley, and the BYU Cougars of Brigham Young University. Brooks attended El Camino High School in Oceanside, California, and reached the NFL in 2023 as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins before joining the Packers.
Early Life and Background
Christopher Brooks was born on January 11, 2000, in Oceanside, California. He is the son of Christopher Brown Sr. and Raquel Brooks. He grew up in Oceanside and attended El Camino High School, where he developed into a standout multi-sport athlete. Brooks was also a member of the school’s track and field team, qualifying for the California State Meet in the long jump as a 2018 senior, which highlighted the speed and explosiveness that later defined his running style.
Coming out of high school, Brooks was rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and was listed as the 12th best running back in the state of California. That recruiting profile drew attention from several college programs and set the stage for his move to the Pac-12 Conference.
Path to American Football
Brooks committed to the University of California, Berkeley, where he joined the California Golden Bears. As a true freshman in 2018, he appeared in all 13 games off the bench and was pressed into a larger role during the Cheez-It Bowl against TCU, when starter Patrick Laird was injured. Brooks finished that bowl game with 71 all-purpose yards on 14 carries and three receptions, giving an early glimpse of his workload potential.
He became a feature back for the Golden Bears by his sophomore season and posted career highs across rushing and receiving. In 2020, injuries limited him to three games, and in his senior year in 2021, he averaged a Cal career-best 5.2 yards per carry before entering the transfer portal on December 6, 2021.
Chris Brooks Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
During his four seasons at California, Brooks grew from a change-of-pace freshman into the Golden Bears’ lead runner. His sophomore year produced 208 carries for 914 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns, plus 22 receptions for 166 yards and 4 receiving touchdowns. His senior season featured 607 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground, and the staff relied on him as both a runner and a pass catcher out of the backfield.
After entering the transfer portal, Brooks moved to Brigham Young University for the 2022 season. With the BYU Cougars, he appeared in 11 games with 8 starts and averaged 6.28 yards per carry, the fourth-best single-season mark in Cougars history. He set a BYU career high with 23 carries for 164 yards in a 35–26 win over Stanford on November 26, 2022, and closed his college career by earning offensive MVP honors at the 2023 Hula Bowl in Orlando after totaling 101 all-purpose yards.
Professional Breakthrough with the Miami Dolphins (2023)
On April 29, 2023, Brooks signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. He made the Dolphins’ final roster, an important early win for a player without a draft selection. His rookie season was interrupted when he was placed on injured reserve on October 20, 2023, and he returned to the active roster on December 19, 2023. The Dolphins released Brooks on September 2, 2024, with an injury settlement.
Green Bay Packers Era (2024–Present)
Brooks was signed by the Green Bay Packers to their practice squad on September 3, 2024, just one day after his release from Miami. He was promoted to the Packers’ active roster on September 17, 2024. In Week 16 against the New Orleans Saints, Brooks scored his first career NFL touchdown on a one-yard rush. Across 15 games for Green Bay, he recorded 36 rushes for 183 yards and added 11 receptions for 69 yards, earning a regular role in the backfield rotation.
On March 4, 2026, Brooks re-signed with the Green Bay Packers, confirming his place in the team’s long-term plans at running back. Listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 219 pounds, he wears jersey No. 30 and remains active on the Packers roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Brooks is a compact, between-the-tackles runner with the burst and long speed he showed as a high school long jumper. His career 4.8 yards per carry in the NFL reflects efficient, north-south running, while his 24 career receptions show reliable hands and route work in the passing game. He has also demonstrated patience in pass protection and willingness in special teams, traits that helped him survive cutdown day as an undrafted rookie.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first NFL touchdown, scored against the New Orleans Saints in Week 16 of the 2024 season, stands as his signature moment to date. He also owns the rare distinction of being named offensive MVP of the Hula Bowl all-star game, and his 6.28 yards per carry at BYU ranks fourth all-time in Cougars single-season history.
Chris Brooks Career Wins
Across his college and early professional career, Brooks has produced several milestone results. At California, his sophomore rushing totals and his 5.2 yards per carry senior average anchored a Golden Bears ground attack for four seasons. At BYU, his 6.28 yards per carry average set a school-era benchmark, and his 164-yard game against Stanford was a single-game career high.
BYU Cougars Highlights
In one season at Brigham Young University, Brooks appeared in 11 games with 8 starts and finished with 6.28 yards per carry, the fourth-best single-season mark in program history. His 23-carry, 164-yard performance against Stanford on November 26, 2022, was the highlight, and he followed it with 101 all-purpose yards and offensive MVP honors at the 2023 Hula Bowl.
Other Wins & Performances
Before college, Brooks was a four-star recruit and a California State Meet qualifier in the long jump, underscoring his all-around athletic profile. His Week 16 rushing touchdown against the New Orleans Saints marked his first career NFL score and the first signature play of his Packers tenure.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL (Green Bay Packers, 2024) | 0 | Not verified | 0 |
Chris Brooks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Brooks is the son of Christopher Brown Sr. and Raquel Brooks. In 2021, he legally changed his last name from Brown to his mother’s maiden name, Brooks, honoring his maternal family line. His parents supported his athletic path from El Camino High School through his college transfer to BYU and into the NFL.
Personal Life
Brooks keeps his personal life largely private. He grew up in Oceanside, California, the community he still credits as his hometown, and he pursued his NFL dream without the benefit of a draft selection. There are no confirmed public details about a spouse or children at this stage of his career.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Brooks is firmly part of the Green Bay Packers’ running back room after re-signing in March 2026. His 2024 production of 36 carries for 183 yards and 11 receptions for 69 yards gave the Packers a trustworthy complementary back behind their lead runner. With another full offseason in the system, Brooks is expected to push for a larger share of the early-down and short-yardage work.
Brooks’ first NFL touchdown against the New Orleans Saints remains the headline moment Packers coaches will look to build on. If he can stay healthy and maintain his 4.8 yards per carry pace from 2024, he should remain a reliable piece of Green Bay’s offensive rotation in 2025 and beyond.
