Chris Brooks Has Turned Pass Protection Into An Art Form

The Green Bay Packers almost always have productive running backs. Eddie Lacy powered the offense during his 2013 Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign. Aaron Jones emerged as a dynamic playmaker in 2017, combining burst and efficiency. Recently, Josh Jacobs has restored the physical identity that had been missing from Green Bay’s backfield.

For decades, an NFL running back’s job description was simple: take the handoff, lower your shoulder, and break as many tackles as possible. But the modern game has transformed the position. Today’s backs need reliable hands to produce as pass-catchers out of the backfield. Moreover, they must at least hold their own in pass protection — and Chris Brooks has been putting on a pass-blocking clinic throughout his tenure in Green Bay.

He blocks with the instincts of an offensive lineman. In Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, he didn’t just square up and neutralize Alex Anzalone on a blitz — he also redirected and picked up a stunt from D.J. Reader, who weighs 330 lbs. Brooks is only 219. That kind of anchor, awareness, and willingness to take on bodies that big is an absurd rep for any running back, let alone one his size.

In Week 11 against the New York Giants, he had another eye-opening rep. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles came flying through the A-gap on a blitz, and Brooks just stonewalled him. Even better, the block helped spring a 33-yard catch by Savion Williams on third-and-10, which set up Christian Watson’s game-winning touchdown.

“I wasn't sure if I'd ever see a blitz pickup as impressive as Brooks picking up a stunt vs. Detroit in the opener, and then he does what he did against Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles on Sunday,” Packers.com’s Wes Hodkiewicz wrote. “It is otherworldly the way Brooks can stand up a blitzing linebacker and hold his ground for seconds. The guy plays with the mindset of an offensive lineman, and the Packers absolutely love him for that. Mark my words – Brooks is going to play in the NFL for a very long time.”

In Week 14, Brooks came through again with another crucial block, this time on Watson’s first touchdown of the game. Chicago sent a seven-man pressure, and Brooks stepped up to take on the defender charging through the A-gap. He locked him down instantly, completely eliminating him from the play.

Brooks didn’t suddenly become one of the league’s most dependable pass protectors — it’s a craft he’s honed for years. No matter the level, his mindset has always been the same: protect the quarterback. From high school to college and now the NFL, that mentality hasn’t changed.

"It all comes down to technique, fundamentals," Brooks said in early November. "I think it's super important to keep whatever QB is in there clean at all times. That just makes the offense go."

Still, Brooks ranks only third among Packers running backs in pass-protection snaps, which feels low considering his impact. Even with just 23 pass-blocking snaps, he leads the group with a 71.6 pass-blocking grade — comfortably ahead of Emanuel Wilson, who has 30 pass-blocking snaps but hasn’t matched Brooks’ consistency. Brooks’ 72.1 pass-blocking grade in 2024 is also the best by a Packers running back with at least 15 pass-blocking snaps since Jamaal Williams back in 2019.

According to Pro Football Focus, Chris Brooks ranks as the 13th-highest-graded running back in pass protection among those with at least 10 pass-blocking snaps. But the eye test suggests Green Bay has the best pass-protecting back in the league — and that’s vital when your priority is keeping a $55 million quarterback healthy. His reliability in protection has essentially secured his roster spot since 2024, and it will continue to do so as long as he maintains this level of play in one of the most important, yet most underrated, responsibilities a running back can have.