The Baltimore Ravens will head into Cleveland with heavy hearts this Sunday.
Clarence Brooks, the longest tenured member on Baltimore’s staff, passed away on Saturday at the age of 65. Brooks was a warrior.
He will be remembered for his passion and the unbreakable bond he formed with his players. In 2005, Brooks was hired by former Ravens head coach Brian Billick to coach the Ravens’ defensive line, where he played a vital role in taking players such as Haloti Ngata to immortality as the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII on a defensive stand.
In 2015, Brooks was forced to miss games for the first time in his 11-year tenure, calling his battle with cancer “the toughest thing I’ve ever been through.”
“He fought a good fight and won,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. “One of the finest coaches I have ever met, he changed the lives and influenced players and coaches for the better.”
Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs echoed Harbaugh’s statement.
“Clarence Brooks was a rare, special coach,” said Suggs. “We had a relationship that became more than football; he was family. He was every bit the definition of the word ‘coach.’ He was firm and demanding when he needed to be, but was a father figure and caring at the same time.”
After Baltimore beat Pittsburgh in overtime last season, Harbaugh awarded Brooks the game ball shortly after Brooks was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Brooks leaves behind a remarkable legacy in Baltimore and will be sorely missed.
Brooks is survived by his wife, son, daughter, and two grandchildren.
