As he lay on the grass at Lincoln Financial Field, Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks found himself in familiar territory. Just 393 days earlier, he had torn his right ACL while playing for the Texas Longhorns. After just nine carries and three games, a rookie season that was already delayed until Week 12 was over. The road to recovery would be lengthy and tough. Still, the Panthers have remained just as committed to Brooks as they were when they selected him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Although the small sample size showed flashes of brilliance, the questions began. Did Brooks come back too soon? Did general manager Dan Morgan make a mistake when took he Brooks so high coming off a torn ACL? Both questions were valid, but there was no time to cry over spilled milk. Brooks would sit out the entire 2025 season, giving him adequate time to recover mentally and physically. Additionally, it gave him time to think. When asked if he ever rethinks or replays “that play”, Brooks responded honestly, “Whenever I think about it, I do, but it kinda just goes.”
“Ultimately, it’s just not that I need to get over it because it’s a huge thing that happened in my life. But also knowing that I’m not that same person whenever I got hurt anymore. Knowing that I’m far from where I was and just continuously getting better.”
One large component of the new person that has emerged from misfortune is Brooks’ blossoming relationship with God. He and teammate Princely Umanmielen were baptized this offseason. He says that has always known God but felt that he had not previously been as disciplined in his faith. He cites the usual distractions that come with being a college student and a young adult – partying and drinking. Brooks says he got to the point where he realized he was just making excuses. “I kind of used that as an excuse, being around people who did that and using that as an excuse. It just wasn’t good enough; and I finally came to the realization that I don’t even like that stuff anymore. I felt the shift in my life, and that was God giving me a sign telling me that I need to change what I’m doing.” These days, he finds a lot more joy reading the Bible, going to church, and spending time with his family.
Â
As for whether there was a catalyst that kicked off his quest to delve deeper into his faith, Brooks credits his position coach at Texas, Tashard Choice, with being a big influence on and off the field.
I’d say when my running back coach, Coach Choice at Texas, whenever he got there. He’s really big on his faith and I saw the way that he went about his life and I saw that he’s been through everything I’ve been through. Just seeing how he handles stuff, seeing how he went through stuff; he really pushed me to be a better person.
That merger of football and faith did not end when Brooks left the 40 Acres. In addition to his family, the locker room has also been instrumental in his development. Although Brooks has not had game action since that fateful December day back in 2024, his friendship with fellow running back Chuba Hubbard was never on hiatus. From back and forth banter on who’s taller and faster to sharing life moments, the duo has formed a sibling-like bond. “The fact that he’s there for me, on and off the field. He’s just such a great role model on the field, seeing how he goes through his process of warming up, learning the playbook and all that. He takes me under his wing and helps me with a lot of that stuff.”
Being that Hubbard himself has faced adversity and persevered through injury, he is a well-qualified mentor. The running backs room has taken on various looks during Brooks’ time in Carolina. A strong 2024 season earned Hubbard a nice payday and a starting job over Miles Sanders. It was expected that Brooks would provide a fire & ice type of backfield combination before injury reared its ugly head. With Brooks sidelined for 2025, the team signed Rico Dowdle. A two-back system was employed and the 2-win team that Brooks was drafted to became NFC South champions. From the sideline, it became more apparent than ever to Brooks that things can change in an instant. Â “Just seeing how in the league, you have to stay ready for your moment. Whenever it’s time for you to show the world what you can do, you have to be ready for that moment. That just falls back to preparation, faith, and the trust that you have in the plan that they have for you.”
It’s a plan that the Panthers and Brooks are 100% bought into – with full trust and no hesitancy. “I’m just trusting the numbers that they have as far as training and now back into practice. I’m just trusting the process they have for me and the plan. You know, they have different plans for every single day, and I just go in there and I do what they say. I trust it. I’m rehabbing still to get better – and, yeah, just trusting their plan.” Brooks has been slowly acclimated into team drills, having worked on the sidelines during OTAs. Still, emotions will be high when No. 25 runs out of that tunnel for the first time since 2024.
“It’s definitely gonna be a lot of emotions, but just knowing all of the hard work I’ve put in during this offseason, since my whole life, just all the hard work that I’ve done, knowing that I’ve done everything in my power to get myself back on that field. To know that my father’s upstairs watching me is a great feeling because this is a dream that we’ve had together .
Then just being able to look up at my mom, my girlfriend, and my brother in the stands, knowing that, ultimately, I’m making them proud; and no matter what I do on that field, God has me covered in every form or fashion in life.
Just knowing myself, that I’m not just a football player. I don’t wanna be just looked at as a football player. I wanna be looked at as other things; and you know, just knowing that God has me covered on the field.
Brooks will surely keep busy during the Panthers break before reporting back for training camp in July. In the meantime, he will be holding his first youth camp back in his hometown of Hallettville, Texas. He hopes to impart more than just football knowledge to those in attendance. He is a walking testament to what happens when you make faith, family, and focus your foundation.
