 Bradley with the Jaguars in 2014 | |
| Indianapolis Colts | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive coordinator |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | July 5, 1966 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) |
| Coaching stats at PFR | |
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.
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]
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.
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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
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.
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]
| 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 | |||
His son, Carter Bradley, is the current starting quarterback for the South Alabama Jaguars.[19]
