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Gus Bradley

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Gus Bradley
Color photograph of a smiling white man with salt-and-pepper goatee (Gus Bradley), wearing a dark grey Jacksonville Jaguars t-shirt and a dark teal Jaguars baseball cap.
Bradley with the Jaguars in 2014
Indianapolis Colts
Position:Defensive coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1966-07-05) July 5, 1966 (age 58)
Zumbrota, Minnesota, U.S.
Career information
High school:Zumbrota (MN)
College:North Dakota State
Career history
As a coach:
Head coaching record
Regular season:14–48 (.226)
Record at Pro Football Reference

Paul Casey "Gus" Bradley (born July 5, 1966) is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He came to prominence as the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks from 2009 to 2012, where he was the original playcaller of the team's Legion of Boom secondary. Bradley later served as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2013 to 2016. Following his dismissal from Jacksonville, he returned to assistant coaching and became the Colts' defensive coordinator in 2022.

Early life

Bradley was the youngest child of six and grew up in Zumbrota, Minnesota, where he played football, basketball and baseball at Zumbrota High School.[1][2]

College career

Bradley played college football at North Dakota State University from 1984 to 1988, where he was a free safety and punter. Bradley helped the Bison win the NCAA Division II Football Championship in 1984, 1987, and 1988, or three of the four years he played. He also was a four-time academic all-North Central Conference selection.[3]

Bradley earned bachelor's degrees in business administration (1989) and physical education (1990) from North Dakota State as well as a master's degree in athletic administration from NDSU in 1992.

Coaching career

Early coaching career

Bradley joined the North Dakota State Bison as a graduate asst. coach in 1990 and was there until 1991. He was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Fort Lewis College from 1992 to 1995 and spent four months as the team's head coach from December 1995 to March 1996. From 1996 to 2005 Bradley returned to North Dakota State and coached in many positions including defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, and assistant head coach to Bob Babich and Craig Bohl. Under Bradley's guidance, North Dakota State's defense led the Great West Football Conference in scoring defense (13.7 ppg), pass defense (150.3 ypg), total defense (272.4 ypg) and turnover margin (+1.00) in 2005.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In 2006, Bradley joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their defensive quality control coach, working closely with defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin in the organization and implementation of the defensive game plan. In 2007 Bradley was promoted to linebackers coach after previous linebackers coach Joe Barry left to become defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. Under Bradley's guidance, linebacker Barrett Ruud went on to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Month in September after leading the Buccaneers defense with 51 tackles and adding one interception, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two passes defensed.[4]

Seattle Seahawks

J.L., listen to me. I have got a guy here in Tampa that is one of, if not, the finest football coaches I have ever worked with. He's an A-plus. He's a once-in-a-lifetime coach. You need to talk to him.

— Monte Kiffin to Jim L. Mora in 2009 about Bradley, after Mora was hired as Seahawks head coach.[5]

On January 12, 2009, the Seattle Seahawks hired Bradley to become the team's defensive coordinator.[6] He was recommended for the job by former Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.[5]

In 2009, under Bradley's guidance the Seahawks' defense allowed opponents to gain 356.4 yards (24th in the league) and to score 24.4 points per game (25th). The Seahawks finished the season with a 5–11 record (3rd in the NFC West, 25th in the NFL), and subsequently replaced head coach Jim L. Mora with Pete Carroll.[7] Carroll decided to keep Bradley for the 2010 season; the two coaches have a common connection with Kiffin.[8]

In 2010, the Seahawks' defense allowed opponents to gain 368.6 yards (27th in the league) and to score 25.4 points per game (25th).[9]

In 2011, the Seahawks' defense allowed opponents to gain 332.2 yards (9th in the league) and to score 19.7 points per game (7th).

In 2012, the Seahawks' defense allowed opponents to gain 306.2 yards per game (4th in the league) and to score 15.3 points per game (1st).[10]

Jacksonville Jaguars

Gus Bradley signing autographs for fans at Jaguars training camp in 2016

On January 17, 2013, Bradley was hired as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.[11] His first regular season win came on November 10, 2013 with a 29–27 victory over the Tennessee Titans. The Jaguars ended the season 4–12, and Bradley was eventually named the head coach of the South team in the 2014 Senior Bowl.[12] On December 18, 2016, the Jaguars relieved Bradley of his duties as head coach, compiling a 14–48 record in 4 seasons.[13]

Los Angeles Chargers

On January 20, 2017, the Los Angeles Chargers hired Bradley as defensive coordinator under head coach Anthony Lynn.[14] After a 2017 season that saw the defense allow 17 points per game, the third-fewest in the NFL, Bradley received a three-year contract extension in January 2018.[15]

Las Vegas Raiders

On January 12, 2021, Bradley was hired by the Las Vegas Raiders to be their defensive coordinator under head coach Jon Gruden, replacing Paul Guenther, who was fired during the 2020 season.

Indianapolis Colts

On February 4, 2022, Bradley was hired by the Indianapolis Colts as their defensive coordinator under head coach Frank Reich.[16]

On March 7, 2023, the Colts announced that they would be retaining Bradley as defensive coordinator under newly hired head coach Shane Steichen.[17] Notably, Steichen and Bradley worked together during their time with the Los Angeles Chargers. On January 11, 2024, Colts general manager Chris Ballard announced that Bradley would return for the 2024 NFL season, after the Colts defense ranked 5th in sacks (51), 16th in takeaways (24) and 28th in points (24.4) during the 2023 NFL season.[18]

Head coaching record

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
JAX 2013 4 12 0 .250 3rd in AFC South – – – –
JAX 2014 3 13 0 .188 3rd in AFC South – – – –
JAX 2015 5 11 0 .313 3rd in AFC South – – – –
JAX 2016 2 12 0 .143 (Fired) – – – –
Total 14 48 0 .226 0 0 .000

Personal life

His son, Carter Bradley, is the former starting quarterback for the South Alabama Jaguars.[19] He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Las Vegas Raiders on April 27, 2024.

References

  1. ^ Craig, Mark. "Minnesota town exempts itself for a day". StarTribune.com. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  2. ^ Thole, George. "Former state preps pave coaching path to NFL". StillwaterGazette.com. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  3. ^ Frey, Thomas. "Brief History On Every NFL Head Coach: AFC South". TheBeastBrief.com. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  4. ^ Holder, Stephen F.; Korth, Joanne (October 4, 2007). "Suspension over, Cox has shot at roster spot with Kelly hurt". St. Petersburg Times.
  5. ^ a b Farnsworth, Clare (January 13, 2009). "Mora heeds advice, hires 'A-plus' Bradley as defensive coordinator". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  6. ^ O'Neil, Danny (January 10, 2009). "Seahawks hire Casey Bradley as defensive coordinator". Seattle Times.
  7. ^ Klein, Gary & Farmer, Sam (January 11, 2010), "Carroll takes Seattle job", Los Angeles Times
  8. ^ "Bradley will stay to run Seahawks defense". The News Tribune. January 16, 2010.
  9. ^ "NFL Stats: Team". NFL.com. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  10. ^ "NFL Team Total Defense Statistics – 2012". ESPN. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  11. ^ Kuharsky, Paul (January 17, 2013). "Jaguars hire Gus Bradley as coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  12. ^ DiRocco, Michael (January 12, 2014). "Mike Smith, Gus Bradley to coach". ESPN. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  13. ^ "Gus Bradley relieved of his duties as head coach". Jaguars.com. December 18, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  14. ^ "Report: Ex-Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley hired as Chargers defensive coordinator". Sports Illustrated. January 20, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  15. ^ Wesseling, Chris (January 9, 2018). "Gus Bradley returning to Chargers under new contract". National Football League. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  16. ^ Gordon, Grant (February 5, 2022). "Colts hiring Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator". NFL.com.
  17. ^ Baca, Michael (March 7, 2023). "Colts retain Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator, hire Brian Mason as new special teams coordinator". NFL.com.
  18. ^ Stankevitz, JJ (January 11, 2024). "Colts GM Chris Ballard disappointed yet encouraged with 2023 as focus shifts to 2024 offseason". colts.com.
  19. ^ "Born and Bred in the Game of Football: Jaguar QB Carter Bradley just playing the game he loves". usajaguars.com. September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
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