Derrick Brooks recorded his official retirement announcement at Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School, and published the video on his website, derrickbrooks.tv
Here is the transcript:
Welcome to DerrickBrooks.tv. This is my official retirement announcement.
“I simply want to say thank you to all you fans, for supporting Derrick Brooks as well as the Buccaneers throughout my 14 years,’’
“I want to thank all the coaches, starting with the head coaches: Sam Wyche, Jon Gruden and Tony Dungy. You guys meant a lot to me, your leadership affects me and what I do on a daily basis and that’s competing to be the best. I thank all my teammates, those that played with me for an extended period of time to those that played with me for a short period of time.
“I’d personally like to thank Warren Sapp. You mean a lot my friend. Words can’t explain the gratitude, how fun it was to play behind you. John Lynch, knowing you had my back in that secondary. Ronde Barber, my Cover Two buddy. You re-defined the defense by playing in space. Simeon Rice, one of the best at going and getting the quarterback. I love you to death, not for just what you do on the field, but how you challenge me mentally to be the best and your thought process. It was fun.
“Again, I thank all you guys. All the support staff, starting with the front office personnel, all the way to the support staff to help this football team go on a daily basis. Again, the Glazers. We came here together in 1995. I thank you for investing in this football team and turning it into a winner. I wish you tremendous success moving forward.
Last, but not least, I thank my family. I’ll start with my kids, Brianna, Derrick Jr., Darius and Dania – I love you. I will always be proud that you will be able to say that you are proud I am your father. Carol I want to be the best I can be for you as well as my family. I always say I want to make you proud to say that you are proud of your husband.
I thank everybody from my business partners to my educational partners. I look forward to what God has in store for me in the future.
Thank you for watching DerrickBrooks.tv. There is more to come.