Charlie "Choo Choo" Brackins (January 12, 1932–1990) is a former quarterback in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers during the 1955 NFL season.
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Brackins was born on January 12, 1932 in Dallas, Texas.[1] He attended Lincoln High in Dallas.
He played college football at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas from 1951 to 1955. He was a three year starter for legendary head football coach Billy Nicks and led the Prairie View Panthers to 33 victories in 37 games in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). He was a big tall passer at 6’2" and 205 pounds.[2] Brackins was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixteenth round of the 1955 NFL Draft,[3] making him the first HBCU alumnus to play quarterback in the NFL. He played in only one game in during the 1955 season, in the closing minutes of a game against the Cleveland Browns on October 23, 1955. Green Bay lost the game 41-10 and Brackins threw two incomplete passes.[4] The Packers placed Brackins on waivers after that game. Brackins had tried out as a defensive back with other teams but he would never get another chance to play in the league. Brackins died from cancer in 1990.