8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 18, 2009

BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	1-10275	74-1914582
(State of Incorporation)	(Commission File	(IRS Employment
	Number)	Identification No.)

6820 LBJ Freeway

Dallas, Texas 75240

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code    972-980-9917

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).

Section 5 — Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02.  Departure of  Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

(b) On March 18, 2009, Ronald Kirk resigned from the Registrant’s Board of Directors.  Mr. Kirk was confirmed on March 18, 2009 by the United States Senate to be U.S. Trade Representative for the United States of America.

Section 9 — Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)     Exhibits.

99  Press Release, dated March 18, 2009.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Date: March 19, 2009	By:	/s/ Douglas H. Brooks
		Douglas H. Brooks, Chairman of the Board President and
		Chief Executive Officer

2

EX-99

Exhibit 99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Media Relations
	(800) 775-7290

Ron Kirk confirmed as U.S. Trade Representative;
Brinker International announces his resignation from board

DALLAS, March 18, 2009 — Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) announced the resignation of Ron Kirk from its Board of Directors following Senate confirmation of his appointment as U.S. Trade Representative.

Kirk, the former Mayor of Dallas, served on the Brinker board from 1997-2009, and was a member of the company’s Executive Committee, as well as the Chairman of its Governance and Nominating Committee.

“For more than a decade, Ron Kirk has been an insightful and influential member of our Board of Directors. His experience as the chief executive of the city of Dallas has been invaluable to us as we continue to build a broad and diverse workforce and accelerate the growth of our restaurant brands around the globe,” said Doug Brooks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Brinker International. “We are grateful to Ron for his many years of service to our company and congratulate him on his new role in President Obama’s cabinet.”

Robert Gates, who has served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense since November 2006, also served on the Brinker board from 2003-2006.

Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT), is one of the world’s leading casual dining restaurant companies, serving more than 1 million guests daily. Founded in 1975 and based in Dallas, Texas, Brinker owns or franchises more than 1,700 restaurants in 27 countries and employs more than 100,000. Brinker restaurant brands include Chili’s® Grill & Bar, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina® and Maggiano’s Little Italy®. The company was named one of FORTUNE Magazine’s Most Admired Food Service Companies in 2009 and was honored by the magazine as one of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities and the Top 50 Employers for Women. For more information, visit www.brinker.com.