Dede Westbrook and Brian Westbrook are both former NFL players who played as wide receiver and running back, respectively. They share the same last name, but are they related? This is a question that many fans have wondered, especially since they both have had successful careers in football. In this article, we will explore the truth about the relationship between Dede Westbrook and Brian Westbrook, and how they became famous in their own right.
Contents
Dede Westbrook: From Injury to Stardom
Dede Westbrook was born on November 21, 1993, in Cameron, Texas. He attended C. H. Yoe High School, where he was a star football player and also excelled in basketball and track. He was a highly touted recruit, but his senior year was cut short by a serious injury that ruptured his lower intestine. He spent over a month in the hospital and several more months in recovery, which affected his grades and his weight. Many recruiters withdrew their interest in him, and he ended up going to Blinn College, a junior college in Texas.
At Blinn College, Westbrook had a breakout season, catching passes for 1,471 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was named one of the top junior college recruits and received over 30 scholarship offers, including from some who rescinded their offers when he was injured in high school. He ultimately transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he played under head coach Bob Stoops.
At Oklahoma, Westbrook became one of the best wide receivers in the nation. He won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in college football in 2016, and was also a unanimous All-American, a first-team All-Big 12 selection, and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting that year, behind Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson, and Baker Mayfield.
Westbrook entered the 2017 NFL Draft and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round, with the 110th overall pick. He played for the Jaguars from 2017 to 2020, where he had some productive seasons as a receiver and a return specialist. He recorded 170 receptions for 1,788 yards and nine touchdowns in his four years with the Jaguars. He also had 770 return yards and one touchdown on kickoffs and punts.
In 2021, Westbrook signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent. However, he only played in six games for the Vikings before suffering a season-ending injury. He had 10 catches for 68 yards and no touchdowns for the Vikings.
In 2022, Westbrook signed with the Green Bay Packers as a practice squad member. He has not yet played for the Packers in any regular season games.
Brian Westbrook: A Versatile Weapon
Brian Westbrook was born on September 2, 1979, in Fort Washington, Maryland. He attended DeMatha Catholic High School, where he was an excellent student and a letterman in football and basketball. In football, he was a first-team All-League selection, a first-team All-Prince George’s County selection, and an All-State Honorable Mention selection.
Westbrook played college football at Villanova University from 1997 to 2001. Despite battling through several injuries, he set the all-time NCAA record with 9,512 all-purpose yards, breaking the previous record held by Brian Shay of Emporia State University. He scored 542 points with 84 touchdowns in his college career. He also established 41 school records, 13 Atlantic 10 Conference records, and five NCAA records.
Westbrook was a consensus All-American and a two-time CAA Offensive Player of the Year. He also won the Walter Payton Award as the top player in NCAA Division I-AA in 2001. He is one of only three players in Villanova history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season three times.
Westbrook entered the 2002 NFL Draft and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round, with the 91st overall pick. He played for the Eagles from 2002 to 2009, where he became one of the best running backs in the league. He was known for his versatility as a runner, receiver, and returner. He made two Pro Bowls (in 2004 and 2007) and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2007.
Westbrook holds several franchise records for the Eagles, including most career touchdowns (68), most career yards from scrimmage (9,785), most career all-purpose yards (10,275), most receptions by a running back (426), most receiving yards by a running back (3,790), most receiving touchdowns by a running back (29), most single-season receptions by a running back (90), most single-season receiving yards by a running back (771), most single-season receiving touchdowns by a running back (5), and most single-season all-purpose yards (2,104).
Westbrook also helped the Eagles reach four consecutive NFC Championship Games from 2001 to 2004, and one Super Bowl appearance in 2004, where they lost to the New England Patriots. He was inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame in 2015.
In 2010, Westbrook signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent. He played one season for the 49ers, where he had 77 carries for 340 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 16 receptions for 150 yards and no touchdowns. He retired from the NFL after the 2010 season.
The Verdict: Are They Related?
So, are Dede Westbrook and Brian Westbrook related? The answer is no. They are not cousins, siblings, or any other kind of relatives. They just happen to share the same last name and play the same sport.
According to Wikipedia, Brian Westbrook is not related to NBA star Russell Westbrook either, despite some media reports claiming otherwise. Russell Westbrook said in a 2008 interview that he and Brian are not cousins
Dede Westbrook and Brian Westbrook are both talented football players who have made their mark in the NFL. They have different backgrounds, different styles, and different careers. But they both have one thing in common: they are Westbrooks. And that is something to be proud of.
