The Cincinnati Bengals signed Michigan Panthers defensive back Nate Brooks on Friday. The Panthers will retain Brooks’s rights should he return to the UFL.
Nate Brooks is six foot and weighs 190 pounds. The 28-year-old from Whitehouse, Texas, was drafted by the Michigan Panthers in the first round (5th pick) of the 2024 UFL Super Draft. In 2024, Brooks made 36 tackles (26 solo, 10 assists), two tackles for loss, one interception, and six pass breakups in 10 games and was named to the All-UFL Team after the season.
Brooks signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Brooks had stints with the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, and the Las Vegas Raiders. Brooks played four career NFL games with the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens, of which two were starts with 11 tackles (10 solo, 1 assist).
Next, the Birmingham Stallions signed Brooks as a free agent on December 3, 2022. In 2023, Brooks made 43 tackles (29 solo, 14 assists), two interceptions for 66 yards, one fumble recovery, and six pass breakups in ten games for the Stallions in 2023. In the playoffs, Brooks made 12 tackles (7 solo, 5 assist) and two pass breakups helping the Stallions win their second straight USFL title.
After the season, Brooks was released on August 11, 2023, and signed with the San Francisco 49ers a day later. He played one preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers with one tackle and was released on August 27, 2023.
Collegiately, Brooks played four seasons at North Texas (2015-18) with 193 tackles (135 solo, 58 assists), 10 tackles for loss, one sack, 10 interceptions for 69 yards, 29 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 48 games for the Mean Green. He was named Second Team All-Conference USA in 2018.
