Ravens coaches, players and owner Steve Bisciotti statements on Clarence Brooks passing

Brooks, known to most as C.B., was the longest tenured assitant coach for the Ravens.

Clarence Brooks, who for11 seasons served as the Baltimroe Ravens defensive line coach, has died after a battle with cancer at the age of 65. He coached the defensive line until this spring, when he underwent treatment for his illness. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh moved Brooks to the position of special defensive assistant in January, hiring Joe Cullen to take over the defensive line.

Brooks was first diagnosed with esophageal cancer almost a year ago, September 29, and announced it publicly in early December.

General manager Ozzie Newsome also praised Brooks for his influence on the team’s players. He was a great man, loving husband and devoted father. He coached some of the best players in the team’s history, including Haloti Ngata, and helped them win a Super Bowl in 2013.

Brooks also coached for the Miami Dolphins (2000-04), Cleveland Browns (1999) and Chicago Bears (1993-98). “Through all of this, we’ve found out how much his players loved him”. He went public with his diagnoses last December.

Before coming to the NFL, Brooks coached in college at Arizona, Syracuse and MA.

Brooks can claim having been the first professional position coach for five-time Pro Bowl honoree and 2006 first-round pick Haloti Ngata, but he has had plenty of standouts who were previously unheralded, such as longtime nose tackle Kelly Gregg and National Football League journeyman Justin Bannan.

Brooks is survived by wife Justa, son Jason – who is the tight ends coach at Florida International and was an assistant on the Ravens’ coaching staff for four seasons (2009-12) – daughter Adrienne, granddaughter Aviana and grandson Avery.