ELF: Prague Lions re-sign DL James Brooks
The Prague Lions of the European League of Football have re-signed veteran James Brooks.
The savvy edge rusher returns to Prague on a mission to help the Lions improve on their dismal inaugural season in the ELF which saw them finish with a 1-11 record. Brooks was still a nightmare for opposition offenses recording 36 tackles (19 solo), 14.5 tfl, 8.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 4 pbu, 1 FG block and a fumble recovery.
The 34 year old knows Prague well as he played for the Lions for three seasons from 2016-2018. He also was a defensive coordinator for the Prague Black Panthers in 2019. Now the 6’4 270-lb edge defender hopes he can translate his knowledge and skills into wins for one of the ELF’s newer franchises.
Brooks has been dominating offensive linemen across the globe since he first played abroad in Germany for the Cologne Falcons in 2013. Following his first international season in Germany, Brooks played in Poland for Kozly Poznan (2014, 2015) and the Czech Republic with the Prague Lions (2016-18). In 2019, he served as the defensive coordinator for the Prague Black Panthers who reached the Austrian Football League semifinals. Now he returns to the Czech Republic’s capital to help the Lions as they enter a new chapter in the franchise’s history.
In 2014, Brooks signed to play in Japan for IBM Big Blue in Japan’s X-League. He was All League in seven consecutive X-League seasons. In 2020, he earned AFI 2020 All-Pandemic Team. In 2022, he made 16 tackles and had one sack for the IBM Big Blue in five games.
Prior to playing in Japan and Europe, the Flagstaff, Arizona native was a standout player for his hometown Arizona State (NCAA DI). Brooks notched 53 tackles, 9 sacks, 18 tackles for a loss, and one interception in three seasons for the Sun Devils. He was best known for blocking two point after attempts in 2010 helping Arizona State to a dramatic double overtime win against arch-rival Arizona.
