The Sad Truth of Greg Brooks Jr

I Just Want To Be Normal -- Greg Brooks Jr.

This last week, sports analyst, Ryan Clark hosted a podcast with a former LSU defensive back Greg Brooks Jr. The story of Greg Brooks is quite disheartening because of the selfish decision from head coach Brian Kelly, forcing his captain to play while having a brain tumor. Greg Brooks has since had multiple head surgeries and will probably be disabled for the rest of his life.

Greg Brooks Jr. was an elite defesive back for the LSU Tigers in 2022. He was named captain because of his leadership on the defensive side of the ball. He motivated his teammates, he defended his teammates, and tutored his teammates as best as possible. However, the leader was forming a brain tumor. He informed the staff about his symptoms but instead of Brian Kelly sitting him on the bench, he made him play.

Even with a brain tumor, Brooks was all of the field making plays, but the reality is, Brooks should not have been playing. In 2023, Brooks would go into a major head surgery which would change his life forever. Not only is it ruining his football career, it’s now ruining his whole life. He cannot talk the same, move the same, or even eat the same since this major surgery.

Thanks to the head coach Brian Kelly, Greg will never be able to live a normal life like had been from before. Kelly never once informed Greg’s parents about the status of his health. Kelly denies the media however and claims that he never once was informed by Greg or a doctor.

LSU athletics has not released a statement on the Greg Brooks Jr. situation yet however. Although the injury took place in 2023, the injury has affected the everyday life of Greg Brooks Jr. and he will never act or live life like a normal person again.

Tackle football is a very dangerous sport even with the new technologies that create the best equipment in the world. LSU’s head coach Brian Kelly should be ashamed of his carelessness in playing Greg instead of taking his injury seriously.