‘Serious about getting the job done.’ How Jordyn Brooks has anchored Dolphins defense
When the Miami Dolphins sat at a lowly 2-7, Jordyn Brooks shared something might irritate the average fan.
The star linebacker’s frustration was clear. He was amid one of the worst starts to his career, recordwise. And while it might be clear that he’s in the midst of a Pro Bowl season in which he leads the league in tackles and racked up two AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, those postseason awards rarely come to players on bad teams. So, when asked his message to the fans, he responded bluntly.
“I wouldn’t say much,” Brooks said Nov. 6, just days before the Dolphins’ 30-13 upset of the Buffalo Bills. “The only thing I could say is through my play honestly. I don’t really have anything to say to the fans. Just through my play.”
That statement could be the personification of Brooks as a competitor. The glamour and frills that come along with being a professional athlete seem to be not for him; he wants to win — even if it means the removal of the Pop-A-Shot, which he allegedly was behind. His attitude alone has brought a level of steady calmness amid the defense’s rough start to the year.
“He is relentless and disciplined,” defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said. “Between him, [Zach] Sieler, [Bradley] Chubb — those guys are the heart and soul of our defense. As he goes, we go defensively. I’m incredibly proud of the kid and the work he’s put forth since he’s been here. When I first met Jordyn when we signed him back in March, April of last year, that first lunch we ate together, I think he said about five words. I was a little nervous. Got an inside backer that doesn’t want to talk much, we’re going to be in trouble. But eventually, when you earn his trust, he comes out of his shell. He’s outkicked whatever we thought he was going to be as a leader. He’s surpassed that.”
Simply put, Brooks has been the anchor. He’s a no-nonsense guy who epitomizes everything that’s right about the game of football. Keep in mind: Brooks was the player who called the Dolphins “soft” after their embarrassing 30-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers in 2024.
This, however, deserves more praise than he actually will ever receive, considering that the 28-year-old is not the most boisterous person. With the Dolphins’ decision to go younger in 2025, Brooks challenged himself to be a more vocal leader.
“It’s not easy to do,” Brooks told the Miami Herald in August. “You got to step out front and be consistent day in, and day out, [making sure] your actions follow behind your words, especially in the heat we have down there in Miami. It’s a challenge I embrace. I honor the role. Being an older guy in the locker room, a leader, whatever you want to call it, is something I embrace.”
The early returns, however, were not great as the rookie defensive tackles — mainly Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips — struggled. Despite the clear learning curve, Brooks held strong, praising the supporting cast while simultaneously hovering at the top of the tackles list.
“These guys are still rookies, still babies in the game,” Brooks said. “I don’t even think they fully know what their potential is. And I think the better they get, the better we’re going to get.”
That much could be true when it comes to Brooks’ record-setting performance against the Washington Commanders. The six-year veteran recorded 20 tackles, the most in NFL international game history, in large part due to their growth but also the confidence that Brooks has infused in them.
“You have 20 tackles; that’s a result of a lot of things — him but also a lot of things from his teammates, particularly those rookie defensive linemen,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “We’ve been counting on that growth, and we’re experiencing some of the fruits of that in these past two wins.”
Added Brooks: “It’s just a testament to everybody. It’s not an individual game. It’s definitely some things I could have played a lot better in the game despite having 20 tackles.”
That Brooks has inhaled opposing offensive players better than anyone in the NFL right now puts him in rare air. For many Dolphins fans, the intensity with which he plays can be somewhat reminiscent of Pro Football Hall of Famer Zach Thomas. Just don’t expect Brooks’ demeanor to change any time soon.
“The position that I play requires that, you know what I mean?” Brooks said. “It requires more than just going out there and playing. It requires leadership. It requires being the same guy every day and being a good steward over what God has blessed us with. That’s all. I take a lot of pride in that. I’m just serious about getting the job done. Doesn’t mean it’s going to be perfect every time, but that’s just my approach to it.”
