Former Texas Tech standout and Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks is entering his seventh season of professional football, and it includes a major caveat in the record books. Brooks is looking to lead the NFL in combined tackles for a third career season, which would match him with record-holder Bobby Wagner, who led the league on three seperate occasions (2016, 2019 and 2023) with the Seattle Seahawks.
The NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 included Brooks at No. 67 overall.
Last year, Brooks led the league with 183 combined tackles, including 99 solo stops, as the Dolphins missed the postseason finishing 7-10 overall and third in the AFC East. Brooks was a highlight on otherwise disastrous 2-7 start to the regular season that saw the former Red Raider land First Team All-Pro honors.
Mike McDaniel is gone, and much of the front office met the broom, too, as new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, coming over from Green Bay, brought in Packers DC Jeff Hafley to head up the Dolphins job. Star rusher De’Von Achane is supported by Oklahoma State Cowboys alum Ollie Gordon, and quarterback Malik Willis is in from Green Bay to help usher the offensive reset in 2026.
Defensively, Brooks is a focal point of a defense striving to improve alongside second-year defensive end Chop Robinson and veteran tackle Zach Sieler. Last year, the Dolphins ranked 24th in points allowed (24.9 points per game) and 22nd in total yards allowed (348.8 points per game).
