Willie Frank Middlebrooks (born February 12, 1979 in Miami, Florida) is a retired defensive back for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and former National Football League free agent cornerback. He was the 24th overall pick of the 2001 NFL Draft. He began his career with the Broncos, then played for the San Francisco 49ers before returning to Denver in 2006. The Broncos released him on August 30, 2006. On Wednesday, June 1, 2011, Willie Middlebrooks announced his retirement after sustaining a serious neck injury he received nearing the end of the 2010 CFL season.