EXHIBIT 32(a)

CERTIFICATION

     Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, the undersigned officer of Brinker International, Inc. (the "Company"), hereby certifies that the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 29, 2004 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: February 7, 2005

By:   /s/ Douglas H. Brooks                                 

      Douglas H. Brooks

      Chairman of the Board,

      President and Chief Executive Officer

      (Principal Executive Officer)