Eagles 3-time Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks retires

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With great reluctance and more than a few tears, Philadelphia Eagles right guard Brandon Brooks announced his retirement Wednesday after 10 seasons in the NFL.

The 32-year-old Brooks, a three-time Pro Bowl pick, became one of the NFL’s best guards after the Eagles signed him in free agency in 2016, he helped Philadelphia win a Super Bowl four years ago.

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A third-round pick by the Houston Texans out of Miami (Ohio) in 2012, Brooks blossomed under renowned offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. Brooks spent about four minutes of his retirement announcement thanking dozens of people, but he saved Stoutland for last.

"I feel like it is rare to have a coach who is as impactful on the field as off," Brooks said. "He took me from being a good player to being the best at my position."

Brooks said that even after he refined his play to Stoutland’s standard, "you pushed me continuously to strive for more, because hungry dogs run faster, and always will. … Through all my struggles and low moments, I could always count on a phone call from you, the topic never being about football, but about life and how much you could help. … You are family, and always will be."

Brooks said he doesn’t think he has lost his skills, but he can’t stay healthy. A string of four serious injuries that began with a torn Achilles tendon in January 2019 prevented him from playing all but two games the last two seasons.

He said that as he wrestled with the decision, he asked himself: "At what point do you listen to your body? I’m having injury after injury. At what point do I listen?"

Brooks, quick and powerful at 6-foot-5, 335