The California Institution for Men in Chino is one of California’s most notorious prisons; it was also home to Falcons rookie linebacker Brian Banks at one time in his life.
The team bio of the 28 year old Banks contains almost no information. He didn’t attend college and last played football while he was in high school, back in 2002.
After his 2002 high school season Banks signed a letter of intent to play his college ball for one of the top NCAA programs in the country, USC.
Between then and now Banks endured the kind of hell few of us could even dream of.
Banks spent five years in prison and then another five years on probation for a crime he was falsely accused of; an innocent man, wasting away in a jail cell.
“I was in California State prison. I went to four different prisons; Chino, Delano, CRC and CMC. I’ve been to three different county jails. I’ve been to three different juvenile halls all in the span of five years,” Banks said.
Sitting in a prison cell quickly killed his dream of playing football again. “When I was incarcerated I actually let go of the idea of even playing football again. I had to in order to get out of prison sane. I had to let go of dreams and passions that I once had, and football was the biggest one. I had to sit in a jail cell and watch all my teammates and guys that I played against go on get scholarships in college. And then some of them go on to play in the NFL. And I watched it all and read about it all from a prison cell,” Banks said. “I definitely let this go.”
But eventually justice was served. In 2012 Banks was completely exonerated of the rape he did not commit.
Banks was a free man. Free to live the rest of his life and free to play football again.
After some failed tryouts in 2012 Banks was signed by the Falcons this year. Banks is no longer just another number in the California penal system; he is number 53, a player trying to make the team as a back-up middle linebacker.
Every day Banks steps on the Falcons practice field in Flowery Branch, Georgia he realizes how far removed he is from the time he spent in prison. “It’s amazing, it really is. I wake up every day just thankful, first for freedom. But to be spending my freedom as an Atlanta Falcon, here in training camp; given an opportunity to actually see if I still have this game in me. I really can’t ask for nothing more,” Banks said.
While the story of Brian Banks is the stuff of Hollywood, the reality is he hasn’t played competitive football in a decade and he has a lot of catching up to do in a very short period of time.
“He’s done a very good job learning the game of football. He’s been away from it for 10 years and it’s tough to come back out and do it. But the learning curve has been speed up here as we’ve gone through it two or three times. It’s a great story, it’s a great opportunity for Brian Banks,” Coach Mike Smith said.
“Every day things are becoming more and more clearer for me to understand. It’s still definitely a battle for me. I’m still learning the basics and then also learning intermediate things as well. So it’s a little bit of both at the same time. Still understanding a Tampa 2 (defence) or a Cover 3, or the true meaning of a Cover zero or a Cover 1. But then also learning these plays and knowing my assignments and being able to check these plays and get other guys in their assignments as a Mike (middle) linebacker,” Banks said.
The physical and mental grind of an NFL training camp can get to even the best players in the league, let alone one that has been out of the game as long as Banks has. “The grind is definitely getting to me. This is not an easy route. Camp is definitely a challenge,” Banks said. “But just the fact that I’m here and the opportunity I have in front of me. Just being out here with the team and the coaches and these guys; that’s what keeps me going, honestly. I cheer these guys on when they’re getting their reps; when I’m on the sideline getting my metal reps in, I’m always cheering these guys on and keeping that spirit up.”
As grateful as Banks is for the opportunity, the rest of the Falcons, particularly the coaching staff, is equally glad that he’s part of the team. “Brian is a guy that has come into our locker room and become one of the team members. He’s got a lot of experiences that he can share with our guys. When you think that you’ve had a bad day, you can talk to Brian and really find out what a bad day is like,” Smith said.
For a man who once gave up on his dream of playing football again, Banks said it was a surreal moment when he heard his name announced at the Georgia Dome during the Falcons pre-season game against the Bengals. “That was something else. That really was something else. You want to continue to focus on what you’re doing in the game. But just to hear it. It’s kind of like these kids that come and they get these autographs from the players and the excitement they have that they’re on the field. And they get to watch a practice, they get many autographs and they leave here excited. I left that game just feeling like a little kid that just got handed a ton of gifts and presents,” Banks said.
The response by people throughout the NFL has overwhelmed Banks. “A few players actually reached out to me after the game and just congratulated me. I got a few text messages from guys just saying “just to hear again what you’ve been through, we’re really happy you getting this opportunity.”
While the dream to play in the NFL is still alive at this point, Banks is realistic about his future with the Falcons.
“At the age of 28 and being out of the game for as long as I’ve been out of it; all I can ask for is a chance,” Banks said.
“I tweeted about it right before the game, if it all ended that night at the game, ‘Mom, I did it.’ I said I would play in the NFL and I had an opportunity and that didn’t come as a handout, that was hard work. I put in so much work into getting this far. I would definitely be thankful for the experience.”
“Whatever happens from there is meant to be,” Banks said.
“I’m just hoping that there are more games to come.”