The Green Bay Packers made the playoffs in 2025 but lost in the Wild Card round, and one important but often overlooked contributor in their success is running back Chris Brooks.
In his third NFL season, the former BYU standout appeared in all 17 games and played 203 offensive snaps and 230 on special teams. In the regular season, he rushed for 106 yards while averaging 3.9 yards per carry. He was primarily used on passing downs this year as both a blocker and a receiver. He hauled in a career-high 13 receptions for 91 yards.
Brooks also morphed into a special teams mainstay and recorded career-high 14 tackles this year.
In the Packers only playoff game in the 2025 season he rushed one time for 16 yards and caught one pass for 11 yards. He also contributed a tackle, highlighting his overall versatility.
The 26-year-old is a restricted free agent this offseason, and given the role he has developed in Green Bay it's highly likely the Packers bring him back next year. And if they don't, he should be able to land with another team in free agency given his specialized skill set.
Chris Brooks' career at BYU
Brooks was a one-year wonder at BYU after transferring from Cal in 2022 as a graduate transfer.
In 11 games in a Cougars uniform he had 130 carries for 813 yards, averaging a whopping 6.3 yards per carry, which ranked No. 4 all-time at BYU. He scored six touchdowns, all on the ground. His best game as a Cougar came in a road win at Standford in which he had 23 carries for 164 yards. He also eclipsed the 100-yard plateau against South Florida (135) and Utah Tech (102).
2022 was BYU's last year as a football independent and Brooks was named Phil Steele All-Independent First Team and College Football Network All-Independent Second Team.
Chris Brooks' NFL career
After a good-but-not-great final college season in Provo, Brooks wasn't selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. He signed with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent and something of a long-shot to make the roster, But he defied the odds as an undrafted rookie free agent and not only made Miami's 53-man roster, he contributed that year, rushing 19 times for 106 yards.
Last year Brooks signed with the Green Bay Packers and it seems to be an ideal home for him. In 2024 he rushed for 183 yards and score his first (and only) NFL touchdown. He also contributed 11 receptions for 69 more yards. But it was his ability to pass protect that got him on the field a lot last year, and continues to be his calling card today.
His growth as a special teams contributor in 2025 should extend his NFL career, which will likely be in Green Bay.
Chris Brooks was a one-year wonder at BYU.
He is building on his success in Provo with a solid NFL career.