Brief Introduction of Brandin Cooks
Brandin Tawan Cooks is a renowned American football wide receiver, currently playing for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). Known for his exceptional speed and consistent performance, Cooks has established himself as a significant offensive threat in the league. He first gained national recognition during his college career at Oregon State, where his record-breaking season earned him the prestigious Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver. Since being drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Cooks has had a unique and storied career, playing for several teams and becoming one of only two players in NFL history to record over 1,000 receiving yards in a single season for four different franchises. His journey is marked by his remarkable consistency, resilience, and a reputation as a dynamic playmaker on the field.
Brandin Cooks Overview
| Full Name | Brandin Tawan Cooks |
| Date of Birth | September 25, 1993 |
| Age(as of 2025) | 32 |
| Birthplace | Stockton, California, U.S. |
| Profession | American Football Wide Receiver |
| Husband/Wife | Briannon Lepman Cooks |
| Family | Worth Cooks Sr. (Father, deceased), Andrea Cooks (Mother), Fred Cooks (Brother), Worth Cooks Jr. (Brother), Andre Cooks (Brother) |
| Relationship/Affairs(GF/BF) | Married |
| Net Worth | Estimated $14 million |
Early Life and Education of Brandin Cooks
Brandin Cooks was born in Stockton, California, to Andrea and Worth Cooks Sr. His early life was shaped by a significant tragedy when his father, Worth Sr., passed away from a heart attack when Brandin was only six years old. This left his mother, Andrea, to raise Brandin and his three older brothers, Fred, Worth Jr., and Andre, on her own. Despite the hardship, Andrea instilled a powerful work ethic in her sons, working multiple jobs to support her family. Cooks attended Lincoln High School in Stockton, where he was a multi-sport athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and track. His talent on the football field was evident early on, and as a senior, he recorded impressive statistics with 66 receptions for 1,125 yards and 11 touchdowns. Initially committing to UCLA, he later changed his decision and chose to attend Oregon State University, where he would go on to have a stellar collegiate career.
Brandin Cooks’s Career
Brandin Cooks’ football career is a testament to his elite speed, route-running prowess, and consistent production across multiple teams. After a standout collegiate career at Oregon State, where he won the 2013 Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver and was a consensus All-American, he declared for the NFL Draft. The New Orleans Saints traded up to select Cooks with the 20th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. In his three seasons with the Saints, he quickly became a favorite target of quarterback Drew Brees, recording back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2015 and 2016.
In March 2017, Cooks was traded to the New England Patriots, where he spent one season. In his lone year with the Patriots, he again surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark and played a crucial role in the team’s run to Super Bowl LII. The following year, in April 2018, Cooks was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. He immediately signed a five-year, $81 million extension with the team and had a career-high 1,204 receiving yards in his first season, helping the Rams reach Super Bowl LIII. After a down year in 2019, he was traded to the Houston Texans in April 2020.
With the Texans, Cooks continued his remarkable consistency, posting two more 1,000-yard seasons in 2020 and 2021. This achievement made him only the second player in NFL history, along with Brandon Marshall, to have 1,000-yard receiving seasons with four different teams. In March 2023, Cooks was traded for a record-tying fourth time to the Dallas Cowboys. After two seasons with the Cowboys, he made a return to his original team, signing a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints in March 2025. Throughout his well-traveled career, Cooks has been a consistent deep threat and a reliable target, amassing impressive career statistics that place him among the top active receivers in the league.
Brandin Cooks Personal Life & Family
Brandin Cooks is a dedicated family man. He is married to his college sweetheart, Briannon Lepman Cooks. The couple met at Oregon State University, where Brandin was a star on the football team and Briannon was a cheerleader. They have been together since their college days and tied the knot on July 7, 2018. Brandin and Briannon are proud parents to two sons, Maverick Archer Cooks and Dash 7 Cooks. The family is known to be very close and often shares glimpses of their life on social media. Briannon is a blogger and a significant supporter of her husband’s career. Cooks is also a man of faith and often speaks about the importance of his Christian beliefs. His signature touchdown celebration, a bow and arrow motion, is a reference to a biblical story and has earned him the nickname “The Archer.”
Awards and Achievements of Brandin Cooks
- Biletnikoff Award (2013)
- Consensus All-American (2013)
- First-team All-Pac-12 (2013)
- Pac-12 single-season receiving yards record (1,730 in 2013)
- Pac-12 single-season receptions record (128 in 2013)
- One of two players in NFL history to have 1,000+ receiving yards with four different teams
Brandin Cooks Net Worth and Income
As of 2025, Brandin Cooks’ net worth is estimated to be around $14 million. His primary source of income is his salary from his NFL contracts. Throughout his career, he has signed several lucrative deals. His most recent contract is a two-year, $13 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, which includes $7.75 million in guaranteed money. Before this, he was on a two-year, $39.7 million contract extension he had signed with the Houston Texans. One of his most significant contracts was a five-year, $81 million extension he signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018. In addition to his NFL earnings, Cooks also has endorsement deals with companies such as Bose, Fanatics, and Reebok.
Legacy and Influence
Brandin Cooks’ legacy in the NFL will be defined by his remarkable consistency and adaptability. Despite being traded a record-tying four times, he has managed to be a highly productive receiver for every team he has played for. His ability to quickly build chemistry with different quarterbacks and learn new offensive systems speaks volumes about his football intelligence and work ethic. He will be remembered as one of the premier deep threats of his era, with a rare ability to stretch the field. His accomplishment of recording over 1,000 receiving yards with four different franchises is a unique achievement that highlights his sustained excellence. Off the field, his dedication to his family and his faith serve as an inspiration to many. He has also been involved in charitable work, further cementing his positive public image.
Interesting Facts about Brandin Cooks
- He ran track in college at Oregon State and is known for his exceptional speed, having run a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
- Cooks is tied with Eric Dickerson for the most times being traded in NFL history, with four trades.
- His touchdown celebration of shooting a bow and arrow is a nod to his Christian faith and has earned him the nickname “The Archer.”
- If he weren’t a professional football player, Cooks has said he would be an actor and even participated in theater in college.
- He holds the record for the longest reception in New Orleans Saints history, a 98-yard touchdown catch from Drew Brees in 2016.
Controversies
Brandin Cooks has maintained a relatively clean and uncontroversial career in the NFL. He is widely respected for his professionalism and positive attitude. While he has expressed frustration at times, particularly during his tenure with the Houston Texans, these instances have been minor and have not resulted in any significant public controversies.
Social Media Presence
- Instagram – Information not publicly available
- Twitter – Information not publicly available
- YouTube – Information not publicly available
Final Words about Brandin Cooks
Brandin Cooks continues to be an impactful player in the NFL. His return to the New Orleans Saints in 2025 brings his career full circle, back to the team that drafted him. As he enters the later stages of his career, his veteran leadership and consistent on-field production will be invaluable. His journey through the league, marked by numerous trades and sustained success, is a unique story in NFL history. Cooks has solidified his reputation as a resilient, high-character player who has consistently performed at a high level, no matter the uniform he wears. His future plans likely involve continuing to be a key offensive weapon for the Saints while also focusing on his family and philanthropic endeavors off the field.
