Tommy Brooker
| Date of birth | October 31, 1939 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Demopolis, Alabama |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) |
Placekicker End |
| Uniform number | 81 |
| College | Alabama |
| AFL draft | 1962 / Round: 17 / Pick: 131 |
| NFL draft |
1962 / Round: 16 / Pick: 211 (By the Washington Redskins) |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1962 | Dallas Texans |
| 1963–1966 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career stats | |
| Points | 290 |
| Field Goals | 41 |
| Extra Points | 149 |
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William Thomas "Tommy" Brooker (born October 31, 1939) is a former American football player. A placekicker and end, Brooker played for the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL) from 1962 to 1966. Brooker played college football at the University of Alabama under legendary coach Bear Bryant. He was drafted by the Texans in the 17th round (131st overall) in the 1962 AFL Draft and by the Washington Redskins in the 16th round (211th overall) in the same year's NFL Draft.
Doubling as an offensive end, Brooker had his best statistical season in his rookie year, 1962. He caught four passes, three for touchdowns, the only ones he would score during his career. He also made all 33 of his extra point attempts and kicked 12 of 22 field goals for a total of 87 points.
Brooker was a member of the Texans team that won the 1962 AFL Championship game, the Texans defeating the Houston Oilers (who had won the first two AFL title games, in 1960 and 1961) at Jeppesen Stadium. It would be the franchise's final game before their move from Dallas to Kansas City. Teammate Bill Hull intercepted the Oilers' George Blanda late in the first overtime of professional football's longest championship game. Hull's interception allowed the Texans to start the second overtime with two runs by Jack Spikes to move the ball to the Oilers' 25-yard line, and Brooker kicked a field goal to give the Texans the win, 20– 17. The field goal saved Texans star running back Abner Haynes from what could have been a costly error: at the start of the overtime, Haynes won the coin toss and stated that his team would "kick to the clock", which not only gave the Oilers first possession, but put the wind at their backs (the Oilers having gotten the choice of which end zone to defend). The Texans saved Haynes from embarrassment by preventing Houston from scoring in the first overtime; after the teams switched sides for the second, Brooker kicked the winning field goal 2 minutes and 54 seconds in.
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