Antoine Brooks Jr. had nearly twice as many tackles as his Saskatchewan Roughriders teammates on Saturday. He also had twice as many mouthguards.
The 27-year-old strongside linebacker notched 13 defensive tackles in the Green and White's 31-27 win over the B.C. Lions, five more than teammate Jameer Thurman, while having two mouthguards dangling from his helmet.
It begged the question: why the extra mouthpiece?
The Story Behind the Two Mouthguards
“The story about the two mouthguards is, my little brother started playing football two years ago,” Brooks explained this week as the Roughriders prepare to visit the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday in Week 3 of the 2026 CFL season. “I go to his game, and all his little teammates are asking me about my swag.
“All the kids, they know I play professional football, so they just were like, ‘Rock the two mouthpiece, man.’ I said, ‘Alright, I got you.’ So, I just rock it.
“It’s really just to represent them, and so they know who I am. They know I’m one of the guys that got the (two) mouthpieces so my little brother, he could spot me out anywhere whenever I’m on the field.
“They think it’s swag.”
Does One Mouthguard Ever Get Used?
“Let me tell you something, for a football player sometimes it’s hard to keep the mouthpiece in the mouth,” laughed Brooks, who has a teammate, defensive back Marcus Sayles, who also wears two for reasons the Leader-Post will eventually get to the bottom of. “But I do try my hardest when I know it’s right there, I put one in and have one of them dangling.”
Family Inspiration
Growing up in Maryland, Brooks started playing football around four years old and was soon joined by his brother Jalen, who is a year-and-a-half younger than Antoine. A third brother, Aidan, a stepbrother to Antoine and Jalen, started playing football just a few years ago and is now 11.
“He started football late so he’s loving it a little bit extra,” said Antoine, who is in his third year with the Roughriders. “He’s growing into his football swag.
“My brother wants to do anything I do. I love him to death. I’m just happy I can show him the way; just making sure I’m a leader and making sure he’s good.
“We just show him that you could be a good kid without us being around either way. And plus, my dad’s a good dad. He’s always around, stepping up and always making sure my little brother has got everything he needs.
“My brother is a good kid; really good grades, A’s all that. I didn’t really have good grades when I was (his age). I had them in and out, but he’s had good grades since he got out of the womb.
“The little man is smart so football is just an additional thing for him.”
So, what did little brother think of big brother's 13-tackle performance on Saturday, which was the highest total by a Roughrider defender since linebacker Reggie Hunt notched a team-record of 16 tackles in 2003?
