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Putting into Dolphins Historical Perspective the 2025 Season That's Earned Brooks National Recognition

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks has been named among the top 10 NFL linebackers along with making the NFL top 100 list
Alain Poupart|
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) is sacked by Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks (20) in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium in 2025.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) is sacked by Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks (20) in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium in 2025. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Miami Dolphins

Jordyn Brooks' 2025 performance was good enough to earn him first-team AP All-Pro recognition, so it figured he'd come up sooner or later on the NFL's annual Top 100 list heading into next season.

And so it was that Brooks was unveiled as the number 67 player Tuesday, the same day the ESPN poll of league executive, scouts and coaches had him in the top 10 among linebackers at number 9.

In the ESPN poll, Brooks was ranked as high as third by some of the poll participants.

Said an anonymous NFL coordinator: "Brooks has a skill set similar to Demario Davis when he was young -- really strong, fast, physical, can play in space, very good tackler."

Brooks' 2025 season was highlighted by his NFL-leading 183 tackles but also included 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

Brooks became the third Dolphins linebacker (not including edge defenders like Jason Taylor or Cameron Wake) to be selected as a first-team All-Pro, joining John Offerdahl in 1990 and Zach Thomas, who did it five times during his Hall of Fame career.

Dolphins linebackers who earned second-team AP All-Pro recognition were Thomas, Offerdahl, and Nick Buoniconti.

The question thus becomes where to place Brooks' 2025 performance among the best in Dolphins history for a linebacker.

Based on the All-Pro nod, you'd have to go back to Thomas' days to find anything as impressive as what Brooks did last year, though we'd be remiss not to mention Kiko Alonso's 2016 performance when he had four fumble recoveries and two interceptions, including a game-winning pick-six at San Diego, to help the Dolphins make the playoffs.

So where to slot in Brooks while we wait for him to get his contract extension with the Dolphins?

THE BEST DOLPHINS LINEBACKER SEASONS

1. Zach Thomas, 1998 — 137 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 pick-sixes, 3 forced fumbles

5. Nick Buoniconti, 1972 — 146 tackles, 1 sack, 2 interception, second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting

2. Zach Thomas, 2003 — 153 tackles, 3 interceptions, 10 passes defensed

3. Steve Towle, 1976 — 217 tackles, 1 sack

6. Jordyn Brooks, 2025 — 183 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks

4. John Offerdahl, 1990 — 116 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception

9. Zach Thomas, 2006 — 165 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles

7. Kiko Alonso, 2016 — 115 tackles, 2 interception, 1 pick-six, 4 fumble recoveries

8. John Offerdahl, 1986 — 135 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles

10. Karlos Dansby, 2011 — 102 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception

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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of Miami Dolphins On SI and host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press and the Dolphins team website. In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books, such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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