Gus Bradley

Gus Bradley is a defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, a role he took on in 2026. He first gained notice as the Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator from 2009 to 2012, where he called the plays for the "Legion of Boom" secondary. After that, he was the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2013 to 2016. Bradley has also served as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Indianapolis Colts, and as assistant head coach for the San Francisco 49ers.

Born Paul Casey Bradley on July 5, 1966, in Zumbrota, Minnesota, he was the youngest of six children. At Zumbrota High School, he played football, basketball, and baseball. He played college football at North Dakota State University from 1984 to 1988 as a free safety and punter, helping the Bison win NCAA Division II championships in 1984, 1987, and 1988. He was a four-time academic all-North Central Conference pick and earned bachelor's degrees in business administration (1989) and physical education (1990), plus a master's in athletic administration (1992), all from North Dakota State.

Bradley began coaching as a graduate assistant at North Dakota State from 1990 to 1991. He then served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Fort Lewis College from 1992 to 1995, and was briefly their head coach from December 1995 to March 1996. He returned to North Dakota State from 1996 to 2005, holding roles including defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, and assistant head coach. In 2005, his 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 2006, Bradley joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a defensive quality control coach, working under Monte Kiffin. He was promoted to linebackers coach in 2007, and under his guidance, linebacker Barrett Ruud was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month in September after totaling 51 tackles, an interception, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two pass deflections.

The Seattle Seahawks hired Bradley as defensive coordinator on January 12, 2009, on Monte Kiffin's recommendation. In 2009, the defense allowed 356.4 yards per game (24th) and 24.4 points per game (25th), and the team finished 5–11. New head coach Pete Carroll kept Bradley for 2010, when the defense allowed 368.6 yards (27th) and 25.4 points (25th). In 2011, the defense improved to 332.2 yards (9th) and 19.7 points (7th). By 2012, they allowed 306.2 yards (4th) and 15.3 points (1st).

Bradley became head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars on January 17, 2013. His first win came in Week 10 against the Tennessee Titans, 29–27. The Jaguars finished 4–12 that season, and Bradley coached the South team in the 2014 Senior Bowl. He was fired on December 18, 2016, with a 14–48 record in less than four seasons.

On January 20, 2017, the Los Angeles Chargers hired Bradley as defensive coordinator under Anthony Lynn. After the defense allowed 17 points per game (third-fewest in the NFL), he received a three-year extension after the 2017 season. He then became defensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders on January 12, 2021, under Jon Gruden. On February 4, 2022, the Indianapolis Colts hired him as defensive coordinator under Frank Reich.

After Reich was fired, the Colts retained Bradley under new head coach Shane Steichen on March 7, 2023. The Colts kept him for the 2024 season despite a defense that ranked 5th in sacks (51) and 16th in takeaways (24) but 28th in points allowed (24.4) in 2023. On January 6, 2025, after a season where his defense ranked bottom five in most categories, the Colts fired him after three years. On February 25, 2025, the San Francisco 49ers hired Bradley as assistant head coach, reuniting him with Robert Saleh, his former assistant in Jacksonville who was the 49ers' defensive coordinator.