Ahmad Brooks Ahmad Brooks ( born March 14 , 1984 ) is an American football linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2006 NFL Supplemental Draft . He played college football at Virginia . Early years and personal . Brooks attended C . D . Hylton High School in Woodbridge , Virginia , which he helped lead to two VHSL state championships during his three - year tenure ( 1999 – 2001 ) . Brooks battled injuries throughout his high school career , but he had a very productive year in 2001 — he had 207 tackles ( 144 solos ) , including 34 for loss , and he also rushed for 848 yards and 10 TDs while averaging 12 . 6 yards per carry . The semifinal loss to Thomas Dale High School of Chester , VA in 2001 was the only Hylton loss in three years in which he played . He was named as USA Today ’ s National Defensive Player of the year after the 2001 season . He participated in the 2002 U . S . Army All - American Bowl game . In 2002 he played at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham , Virginia . His dad , a former Washington Redskins defensive tackle Perry Brooks , died in March 2010 . College career . Following high school , Brooks spent one year at a military post - graduate school before enrolling at Virginia in the fall of 2003 , where he majored in Sociology . He earned a starting position as a freshman and finished the year with a career - high and team - leading 117 tackles . He also had four sacks , six passes defensed , 10 tackles - for - loss and 15 QB pressures . He had a career - high 12 tackles vs . Pittsburgh in the Continental Tire Bowl , including a key stop early in the contest to complete a goal - line stand . During his sophomore year at the University of Virginia he was one of three Butkus Award finalists , which goes to the best linebacker in the country . He played in 12 games , earning All - America honors after totaling a team - leading 90 tackles , with eight sacks , two INTs , 11 QB pressures and 10 tackles - for - loss . Earned Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week honors for his performance against the Maryland Terrapins . He played in six games as a junior , with 27 tackles ( 10 solo ) , including one sack , plus four passes defensed and five QB pressures . He missed games 1 - 3 while rehabbing from knee surgery performed following his sophomore campaign . He missed other games due to various injuries throughout the 2005 season . He was involved in several off - field problems and was eventually dismissed from the team following the season . Professional career . Cincinnati Bengals . Brooks entered the NFL Supplemental Draft following his junior season at Virginia and was selected by the Bengals in the third round on July 13 , 2006 . He made his NFL debut September 24 at Pittsburgh ( no statistics ) . As a rookie , he played in 11 contests ( Games 3 - 9 , 11 - 12 , and 16 ) , with starts at Middle Linebacker in Games 5 - 9 . He had 46 tackles , with one sack , 2 passes defended , and one special teams tackle . In the 2007 season opener on Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens , Brooks was the starter . Brooks ended the game with six tackles , a sack , and a forced fumble . In the first series of the game against the Cleveland Browns in week 2 , Brooks tore his groin muscle , which ended his season . He was placed on injured reserve on November 7 , 2007 . Brooks was waived by the Bengals on August 30 , 2008 during final cuts . San Francisco 49ers . On August 31 , 2008 , Brooks was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco 49ers . The team released linebacker Dontarrious Thomas to make room for Brooks . The 49ers waived Brooks on November 29 to make room for wide receiver Chris Hannon , but re - signed Brooks on December 2 after Hannon was waived . On December 2 , 2009 , San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary mentioned that Brooks would be used increasingly during pass rushing situations . In week 14 , Brooks recorded single - game career - highs of 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles against the Arizona Cardinals . Brooks recorded career highs in both tackles ( 50 ) and sacks ( 7 ) during the 2011 Regular Season . On February 28 , 2012 , Brooks signed a six - year contract extension worth $ 44 . 5 million , with $ 17 . 5 million guaranteed .