NEW YORK — Larry Brooks, longtime hockey columnist at the New York Post, died Thursday morning from cancer, the newspaper announced. He was 75.
Brooks, who received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018, began writing for the Post in 1976 and started covering the Rangers in 1978. In 1982, he became vice president of communications for the New Jersey Devils and held the position for 10 years before returning to the Post. In total, he spent 38 years with the newspaper, covering the Rangers for most of his tenure. At points, he also reported on the Islanders, the Devils, the NHL at large, the Yankees and other New York sporting events.
The Post announced in October that he would be taking a break from coverage to address a medical issue. On Thursday, tributes from around the hockey world poured in after the Post announced Brooks’ death.
“Larry, this job we both love so much will never be the same without you,” his Rangers’ beat partner, Mollie Walker, wrote for the Post. “Thank you for your guidance, for being the most supportive beat partner, but most of all, for your friendship. I will cherish the time we spent together.”
Larry Brooks was synonymous with the New York Rangers. From the articles to the legendary YouTube videos I watched growing up, nobody covered hockey like him. It never seemed possible that he wouldn’t be around forever.
As my 6 years in New York went on, I was lucky to be on…
— Jimmy Vesey (@19Vesey) November 13, 2025
“Larry Brooks was synonymous with the New York Rangers,” former Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey posted on X. “From the articles to the legendary YouTube videos I watched growing up, nobody covered hockey like him. It never seemed possible that he wouldn’t be around forever. … I looked forward to our informal post-practice talks — about the state of our team, the state of the league, college hockey and family (especially watching his grandson play hockey). He was a legend and one of one.”
“Even if we were on opposite sides of an issue, we always respected each other, and it never interfered with our relationship or delayed the next phone call, the next text,” wrote John Rosasco, a longtime head of communications for the Rangers, on X. “I looked forward to those calls every day and will miss them greatly. He was a giant in the industry, and his passing is a tremendous loss for us all.”
Statement from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on the passing of Larry Brooks. https://t.co/Yx3ti5uyEA pic.twitter.com/ZcgtAdzE6Z
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) November 13, 2025
According to the Post, Brooks is survived by his son, Jordan, daughter-in-law, Joanna, and grandchildren Scott and Reese.