Here is everything Houston Texans running back British Brooks said after making the active 53-man roster for the 2025 NFL season.
Question: On what it means to make the team
British Brooks: “First of all, I just want to thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ and thank the coaching staff and [Head Coach] DeMeco [Ryans] and [Executive Vice President and General Manager] Nick [Caserio] for entrusting me. It means a lot, just to show that even though I came back from injury, I still came back being physical, being tough. I’m proud of myself on that. It means a lot to me.”
On if he was more confident about making the team this year than last year
Brooks: “That’s a hard question. You never know. So, I control what I can control with what I did. I felt good in my preparation every day. But, then again, you never know. So, it’s just taking it how it is.”
Q: On where he sees himself fitting into offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s offense
Brooks: “Wherever he needs me. Running back, fullback, I’m not going to say no. So, it’s just ‘Yes sir.’”
Q: On if he views himself as a short yardage running back
Brooks: “I honestly have no clue. If we need a yard, I’m going to go get a yard. If we need a first, I’m going to do what they tell me to do. So, that’s how I see it. Just try to be as versatile as I can.”
Q: On what it takes to be good at special teams
Brooks: “Violence.”
Q: On if he felt Special Teams Coordinator Frank Ross develop trust in him over the course of Training Camp
Brooks: “100%. I feel like everyone who went through training camp felt that way because Frank [Ross] coaches his butt off every single day. 100%. He misses no days with being intent on what to do, lining up and being violent when contact arrives. So, getting the trust part is just the non-negotiables of lining up, effort and being physical. As you keep doing that, the trust is going to grow.”
Q: On his relationship with Running Backs Coach Danny Barrett
Brooks: “He’s helped me out a lot. One of the first things he… Even last year, last year was really one of the first times I could actually see a football because I had never played with contacts, I didn’t know I needed them. He was like, ‘You need to go get that fixed, because that could change your career.’ Then I went and got it and the next day I could see the details on the ball. It was actually crazy. Just the presence he has in the room, he coaches from a place of love and it spreads throughout the entire facility. You can definitely tell that from how he carries himself.”
Q: On if he knew he needed contacts
Brooks: “No. Even when I was driving, I was just squinting. I thought I was straight. Then I got contacts and I was like, the world is different. It’s crazy.”
Q: On what it’s like going through training camp knowing he’s in a competitive group
Brooks: “For me, I try to put all emotions to the side. I feel like you play out of emotions, one day you’re up and one day you’re down. Just being able to compete, no matter how you feel is how I try to go. Day-by-day.”
Q: On if he’ll be locked into Bill Belichick’s North Carolina coaching debut
Brooks: “I’m going to tap in. I still have some boys that I grew up with. Not grow up with but they were mentoring and they’re still playing. So, I got a couple of them. I’m for sure going to tap in.”
Q: On how much he had to grow from last year to get to this level
Brooks: “A lot, actually. This year’s been tough because a big part of my background, the people that’s been around me, my grandpa passed in March. So, it was tough not having him talking to me every day or just the little stuff he used to do every day. You look back and you’re like, ‘Dang, I miss that.’ So, this camp was the toughest, mentally, because he wasn’t there. I had to tap in a lot. Going through text messages, I would just do that. Look through old text messages to see what he was saying, just reminding myself that I’m built for this.”
