The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have announced that they will retire the number 55 jersey worn by former linebacker Derrick Brooks and induct him in the team's Ring of Honour at half time of their match against the St Louis Rams on September 14.
Brooks carved out an illustrious 14-year career with the Buccaneers, being elected to 11 consecutive Pro Bowls, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2002 and helping Tampa Bay to Super Bowl success that same season.
The 41-year-old will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August and will be honoured by the Buccaneers in the same way that former teammate and current Hall of Famer Warren Sapp was last season.
"If Warren was the heart of our defense, Derrick Brooks was the soul that propelled us to our Super Bowl championship in 2002," Tampa Bay co-chairman Bryan Glazer told reporters.
Brooks will become just the third player to have his number retired by the franchise alongside Sapp and Lee Roy Selmon.
