Former LSU football player Greg Brooks Jr. and his father, Greg Brooks Sr., appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Monday in a segment where they discussed at length his ongoing medical negligence lawsuit and experience at LSU.
Brooks brought the lawsuit in August against LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Health, LSU’s sports medicine partner. He alleged that LSU was late to diagnose his brain tumor and that doctors’ mistakes during his surgery left him permanently disabled.
Brooks played for LSU in 2022 and 2023 and was diagnosed with a brain tumor in September 2023. From there, he underwent surgery with Our Lady of the Lake doctors as recommended by LSU.
“The disease is not the issue. This is the aftermath of injury from surgery,” Brooks Sr. said on GMA.
Brooks sat in a wheelchair for the interview and spoke with difficulty.
According to the GMA segment, Brooks has had to relearn how to write, speak and eat since his surgery.
Brooks Sr. said that LSU told him “nothing” about Brooks’ state after diagnosing him with a tumor and did not make him aware of the options Brooks had, instead independently scheduling him for surgery with Our Lady of the Lake doctors.
“Would I have ever thought that his best interest wouldn’t be at heart? No,” Brooks Sr. said, adding that because of that he didn’t seek a second opinion.
Brooks Sr. also said that none of LSU’s coaches have reached out to the family since October 2023, including Brian Kelly.
“My son almost lost his life. Where were you? Forget about football,” Brooks Sr. said.
Brooks said he and his family are using the opportunity to raise awareness for other athletes to take charge of their own medical decisions.
“I just want young athletes in the same spot I was – if something is hurting, tell them,” Brooks said. “And if they don’t do nothing about it, go get your second opinion. Because if I would have known that, I wouldn’t be the way I am right now.”
They also continue to participate in litigation against LSU and Our Lady of the Lake.
“Whatever card I’m dealt, that’s the card I’m going to play,” Brooks said. “And I’m going to make sure I win.”
LSU declined to comment on the lawsuit but offered continued condolences for the Brooks family back in October.
“While LSU cannot comment on ongoing litigation, Greg Brooks remains in our thoughts and prayers as he continues to work through the rehabilitation process. Since the beginning of our agreement with our Championship Health Partner, Our Lady of the Lake, they have provided exceptional medical care for our student-athletes in all of our sports,” LSU said in an October statement.
Full information on the lawsuit and all it alleges can be found here.
