Last Updated on October 23, 2026 by Valentim Tereshkova
Jalen Brooks is an American football wide receiver who plays for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL. Before joining Arizona, he played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and began his professional career with the Dallas Cowboys. Beyond his achievements on the field, many fans are interested in learning about Jalen Brooks’ family, girlfriend, children, parents and siblings.
Born on May 7, 2000, in North Carolina, Jalen Allen Brooks grew up in Harrisburg, where his mother, Lakesha Brooks, played an important role in his upbringing. He has also publicly discussed having an older brother and a younger brother.
Brooks was raised in a single-parent household and has spoken about how his family’s circumstances influenced his education and football decisions. His desire to remain close to his mother and brothers was a significant factor in his decision to transfer to the University of South Carolina in 2020.
Although his relationship with his mother and brothers is publicly documented, Brooks has maintained considerable privacy regarding romantic relationships and children.
Jalen Brooks’ Girlfriend: Is He Dating Anyone?
Jalen Brooks has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend. Despite becoming an NFL player, the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver has largely kept his romantic life away from media attention.
Most interviews with Brooks focus on his football development, experiences growing up in North Carolina, college career and relationship with his family.
Unlike some professional athletes who frequently post photographs of romantic partners, Brooks has not made a widely documented public announcement identifying his current girlfriend.
As of now, there is no reliably verified information establishing whether he is dating anyone.
However, the absence of public information does not necessarily mean Brooks is single. It simply means his relationship status has not been independently confirmed.
Has Jalen Brooks Ever Discussed a Girlfriend?
Jalen Brooks has rarely discussed romantic relationships in his publicly available interviews.
During his college career at Wingate University and South Carolina, media coverage generally concentrated on his determination to succeed in football and his decision to remain close to family members.
Following his selection by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2023 NFL Draft, interviews continued focusing on his professional ambitions and the challenges he overcame during college.
As of now, there is no reliable public confirmation identifying a current or former girlfriend.
Is Jalen Brooks Married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Jalen Brooks is married.
The Arizona Cardinals wide receiver has not made a widely documented wedding announcement, and official NFL biographies do not identify a wife.
There is also no verified public announcement establishing that he is engaged.
As of now, Brooks’ marital status remains publicly unconfirmed.
Does Jalen Brooks Have Children?
Jalen Brooks has no publicly confirmed children.
As of now, there are no reliable reports identifying a son or daughter belonging to the NFL wide receiver.
Brooks has not made a widely documented announcement about becoming a father, and established sports profiles do not provide information about children.
Most available information about his personal life concerns his mother, brothers and experiences growing up in North Carolina.
Therefore, there is no verified information concerning the names or ages of any children he may have.
The absence of public confirmation should not be interpreted as definitive proof that Brooks has no children. It means that fatherhood has not been established through trustworthy reporting.
Jalen Brooks’ Parents: Meet His Mother and Father
Jalen Brooks grew up in North Carolina, where he was raised in a single-parent household.
His mother, Lakesha Brooks, has been publicly identified through official college football records and television interviews.
Brooks has spoken about the importance of helping his mother financially and remaining available to support his family.
Jalen Brooks’ Mother: Lakesha Brooks
Lakesha Brooks is Jalen Brooks’ mother and one of the most important people in his life.
Her name appears in Wingate University’s official February 2018 announcement introducing its incoming football recruits.
The university identified Jalen as a wide receiver from Hickory Ridge High School and specifically named Lakesha Brooks as his mother.
She raised Jalen in the Harrisburg, North Carolina, area and supported his athletic development from high school through professional football.
In an August 2020 interview reported by The State, Brooks explained that his mother was a single parent.
He also discussed how his family’s financial circumstances influenced his decision to begin his college football career at Wingate University.
Rather than immediately pursuing a Division I opportunity, he wanted to make sure his mother would not have to pay significant college expenses.
His decision reflected his appreciation for the sacrifices she made while raising him and his brothers.
How Lakesha Brooks Influenced Her Son’s College Career
Family responsibilities played an important role in Jalen Brooks’ early college decisions.
After graduating from Hickory Ridge High School in 2018, he enrolled at Wingate University in North Carolina.
Although he had ambitions to compete at the Division I level, he initially chose Wingate because it provided an opportunity to continue playing football without placing additional financial pressure on his mother.
He spent two productive seasons with the Bulldogs before transferring to Tarleton State University in Texas.
However, living far from his family became challenging.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Brooks began reconsidering his situation and decided he wanted to return closer to home.
In interviews with South Carolina sports reporters, he explained that supporting his mother and younger brother was particularly important.
He eventually transferred to the University of South Carolina, allowing him to continue pursuing Division I football while remaining within driving distance of his family.
His decision demonstrated that family responsibilities were an important consideration alongside his athletic ambitions.
Lakesha Brooks Celebrated Her Son’s First NFL Receptions
One of the most memorable moments involving Jalen Brooks’ mother occurred in November 2023.
On November 12, Brooks recorded his first NFL receptions while playing for the Dallas Cowboys against the New York Giants.
He finished the game with four catches for 39 receiving yards.
His mother watched the achievement from her home in Harrisburg, North Carolina.
During a November 19, 2023, interview with WSOC-TV reporter DaShawn Brown, Lakesha described her excitement as she watched her son achieve an important professional milestone.
She also became emotional when discussing the difficulties he had overcome throughout his football career.
Lakesha explained that watching Jalen continue pursuing his dreams despite setbacks had been deeply meaningful.
The interview took place shortly before Dallas faced the Carolina Panthers, giving Brooks an opportunity to return to his home state as an NFL player.
His mother and other relatives were eager to support him during the game.
Jalen Brooks’ Father: Who Is His Dad?
The identity of Jalen Brooks’ father has not been reliably established in public reporting about the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver.
Brooks has described growing up in a single-parent household led by his mother, Lakesha.
However, he has not widely discussed his father’s name, occupation or personal background in verified interviews.
His official biographies at Wingate University, South Carolina and the Arizona Cardinals do not provide independently confirmed details identifying his father.
It is important to note that being raised by a single mother does not automatically establish whether a father was involved in other aspects of a child’s life.
As of now, further details about Jalen Brooks’ biological father remain private.
Why Do Some Websites List Different Parents for Jalen Brooks?
Some online biographies incorrectly identify Jalen Brooks’ parents as Darryl and Leslie Brooks.
However, those names are associated with a different football player named Jalen Brooks who attended the University of Maryland.
Maryland’s official athletics biography identifies that player as Darryl Jalen Brooks, a former linebacker.
The Arizona Cardinals wide receiver, by contrast, is Jalen Allen Brooks, who attended Wingate and South Carolina.
Wingate University’s official records and a direct WSOC-TV interview establish Lakesha Brooks as the wide receiver’s mother.
Therefore, information about other athletes with the same name should not be attributed to the Cardinals receiver without supporting evidence.
Jalen Brooks’ Siblings: Does He Have Brothers and Sisters?
Jalen Brooks has publicly confirmed having an older brother and a younger brother.
He discussed both siblings during an August 2020 interview about transferring to South Carolina.
According to The State, Brooks explained that his older brother had recently returned home from Australia and that he wanted to remain close to his younger brother.
Although the existence of both brothers is confirmed through his own comments, their names and detailed personal backgrounds have not been reliably established.
Jalen Brooks’ Older Brother
Jalen Brooks has an older brother who was living in or visiting Australia before returning to North Carolina in 2020.
Brooks mentioned his older brother while explaining why he wanted to transfer from Tarleton State in Texas to a university closer to home.
In the August 2020 interview, he explained that his older brother had returned from Australia and that spending time with his family was important.
However, the report did not identify his brother’s name or explain why he had been in Australia.
There is also no reliable information establishing his brother’s age, occupation or educational background.
As of now, he remains one of Jalen’s two publicly documented brothers.
Jalen Brooks’ Younger Brother
Jalen Brooks also has a younger brother, whom he specifically mentioned during his 2020 college transfer announcement.
The wide receiver explained that being present for his younger brother was one of the reasons he wanted to return closer to North Carolina.
His comments suggested that he felt a responsibility to support younger members of his family.
Moving to South Carolina allowed Brooks to remain nearer to his mother and younger brother while pursuing major college football opportunities.
However, reliable public sources have not established his younger brother’s name, age or occupation.
It would therefore be inaccurate to assign him a specific identity without further confirmation.
How His Brothers Influenced His College Decision
Jalen Brooks’ brothers were part of the family circumstances that influenced his decision to leave Tarleton State in 2020.
At the time, the COVID-19 pandemic created uncertainty for college athletes across the United States.
Brooks was living in Texas, far from his mother and siblings in North Carolina.
According to a July 2023 article published by the Dallas Cowboys, Brooks sometimes drove between Texas and North Carolina during that difficult period.
The journey could take approximately 14 to 16 hours each way.
He eventually decided that being closer to his family was an important priority.
His move to South Carolina provided that opportunity while also allowing him to compete in the Southeastern Conference.
Does Jalen Brooks Have a Sister?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Jalen Brooks has a sister.
His documented family interviews identify an older brother and a younger brother.
However, those interviews do not establish whether he has any additional siblings.
Therefore, the most accurate conclusion is that Brooks has at least two brothers, while the existence of any sisters remains unconfirmed.
How Jalen Brooks’ Family Influenced His Football Career
Family support played an important role in Jalen Brooks’ journey from North Carolina high school football to the NFL.
He attended Hickory Ridge High School in Harrisburg, where he developed into a talented wide receiver.
During his senior season, Brooks recorded 44 receptions for 771 yards and nine touchdowns, according to South Carolina’s official athletics biography.
He subsequently joined Wingate University in 2018.
During his freshman season, he recorded 17 receptions for 297 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
His production improved significantly in 2019, when he caught 35 passes for 751 yards and six touchdowns.
The performance earned him first-team All-South Atlantic Conference recognition.
After briefly attending Tarleton State in Texas, Brooks transferred to South Carolina in 2020.
Overcoming Challenges at South Carolina
Brooks’ college football career included several challenges.
After transferring to South Carolina, he faced eligibility complications that delayed his debut during the 2020 season.
He eventually appeared in six games that year and recorded 11 receptions for 100 yards.
In 2021, Brooks stepped away from the team during the second half of the season for personal reasons.
Those reasons were not fully disclosed publicly, and it would be inappropriate to speculate about their nature.
He returned to the program in 2022 and became an important contributor.
During his final college season, he recorded 33 receptions for 504 yards and one receiving touchdown.
His determination earned him South Carolina’s 2022 Overcoming Adversity Award and Community Service Award.
His return also demonstrated the persistence that had characterized his earlier decisions about education and family.
Jalen Brooks’ NFL Career With the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys selected Jalen Brooks in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 244th overall pick.
The selection represented a significant achievement for an athlete who began his college career at a Division II university.
Brooks made his NFL debut during the 2023 season and recorded his first receptions against the New York Giants in November.
His mother celebrated the accomplishment from North Carolina before attending additional games involving her son.
Brooks continued developing with Dallas during the 2024 season.
He appeared in 14 games, recorded 12 receptions for 177 receiving yards and scored his first professional touchdown.
That touchdown came against the Carolina Panthers on December 15, 2024, making the achievement especially meaningful because it occurred in his home state.
Jalen Brooks Joins the Arizona Cardinals
After beginning the 2025 season with the Dallas Cowboys organization, Brooks joined the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on October 30, 2025.
He was elevated to Arizona’s active roster on December 6 and officially signed to the active roster on December 16, 2025.
During his first season with the Cardinals, he contributed as both a wide receiver and kickoff returner.
Brooks continued competing for Arizona during the 2026 NFL season.
As of now, he is listed as an active wide receiver for the Cardinals, wearing jersey number 86.
His journey from Wingate to South Carolina, Dallas and Arizona reflects his persistence and the importance of opportunities created through football.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jalen Brooks’ Family
Who is Jalen Brooks’ girlfriend?
As of now, Jalen Brooks has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend. There is no reliable information identifying his current romantic partner.
Is Jalen Brooks married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Jalen Brooks is married or has a wife.
Does Jalen Brooks have children?
Jalen Brooks has no publicly confirmed children. He has not made a verified announcement identifying a son or daughter.
Who is Jalen Brooks’ mother?
His mother is Lakesha Brooks, who raised him in North Carolina and supported his development from high school football to the NFL.
Who is Jalen Brooks’ father?
The identity of the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver’s father has not been reliably established in public reporting.
Was Jalen Brooks raised by a single mother?
Yes. In an August 2020 interview, Brooks described his mother as a single parent and explained how family responsibilities influenced his college football decisions.
How many siblings does Jalen Brooks have?
Jalen Brooks has at least two publicly confirmed siblings: an older brother and a younger brother. Their names have not been reliably documented.
Does Jalen Brooks have a sister?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Jalen Brooks has a sister. His documented family interviews identify two brothers.
Why did Jalen Brooks transfer to South Carolina?
Brooks transferred to South Carolina in 2020 partly because he wanted to remain closer to his mother and brothers in North Carolina while playing Division I football.
Where is Jalen Brooks from?
Jalen Brooks is from Harrisburg, North Carolina, where he attended Hickory Ridge High School.
What is Jalen Brooks’ full name?
His full name is Jalen Allen Brooks. He was born on May 7, 2000, according to the University of South Carolina’s official football biography.
What NFL team does Jalen Brooks play for?
As of now, Jalen Brooks plays wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, whom he joined in October 2025 after beginning his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys.
Valentim Tereshkova is a sports journalist and NFL analyst specializing in team dynamics, scheme breakdowns, and league-wide trends. Covering everything from offseason roster construction and Draft developments to Sunday game plans and Super Bowl contenders, he delivers clear, sharp commentary on the gridiron. Valentim combines stat-driven analysis with a passion for football storytelling to give readers an expert look into the AFC and NFC.
