Gus Bradley was named the fifth head coach in Jacksonville Jaguars history on January 17, 2013. Bradley has 23 years of coaching experience including seven seasons in the NFL.
Bradley, 46, spent the last four seasons (2009-12) with the Seattle Seahawks as defensive coordinator and played an important role in the club advancing to the postseason twice. The Seahawks posted an 11-5 mark in 2012, the third-best in franchise history, and advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs.
Bradley developed the Seattle defense into one of the NFL’s top units during his tenure. The Seahawks ranked sixth in the NFL in total defense (319.2 yards per game) since 2011, third in points per game (17.5), fifth in takeaways (62), first in opponents passer rating (73.2) and fifth in interceptions (40).
Under Bradley’s direction in 2012, the Seahawks led the NFL by allowing a franchise-record low 15.3 points per game despite playing with the third-youngest (25 years, 195 days) defensive starting unit in the league. The Seahawks allowed a franchise-low 306.2 yards per game which ranked fourth in the NFL, finishing 10
th against the run (103.1) and sixth against the pass (203.1). In addition, the unit was sixth in yards per play (5.06), fifth in takeaways (31), sixth in plays of 20-plus yards allowed (50), third in passer rating (71.8) and fifth in yards per pass play (6.20). The Seahawks finished with a plus-13 turnover differential thanks in part to 14 takeaways in the last four games.
Bradley was responsible for the development of two rookies who played key roles for the Seahawks in defensive end Bruce Irvin and linebacker Bobby Wagner. Irvin, the 15
th overall pick of the draft, led all rookies with eight sacks while Wagner (2
nd round) ranked second among rookies in tackles with 140, and fourth with three interceptions. Safety Earl Thomas was voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. Second-year cornerback Richard Sherman earned first-team Associated Press All-Pro honors after leading the team and tying for second in the NFL with eight interceptions. Defensive end Chris Clemons excelled under Bradley’s tutelage, posting 33.5 sacks in 48 games including a career-high 11.5 in 2012.
In 2011, Bradley’s defensive unit ranked ninth in the NFL, allowing 332.2 yards per game, finishing in the top-10 for only the sixth time in the club’s 36-year history and for the first time since 1997. Nine of his 11 regulars started at least 14 games on a squad that ranked the second-youngest in the NFL (26 years, 59 days). Seattle ranked in the top-10 in multiple categories, including second in fewest touchdowns allowed in the second half (11), third in second half points allowed (119), fourth in opponent yards per rush attempt (3.79), fifth in turnover differential (+8), fifth in most takeaways (31) and seventh in points allowed per game (19.7).
Bradley’s group sent three players to the 2012 Pro Bowl, with Thomas voted as a starter. He was joined in Hawaii by fellow secondary mates, safety Kam Chancellor and cornerback Brandon Browner.
In Bradley’s first year as defensive coordinator, the Seahawks posted two shutouts at home, the first time since 1986 they accomplished that feat.
Bradley joined Seattle after spending three years (2006-08) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, serving the last two as linebackers coach after joining the Bucs in 2006 as their defensive quality control coach. Derrick Brooks earned Pro Bowl appearances in 2007 and 2008 under Bradley’s guidance.
Prior to Tampa Bay, Bradley spent 10 seasons (1996-2005) as an assistant coach at his alma mater, North Dakota State, including six as the assistant head coach (2000-05). He also served as defensive coordinator for the Bison from 1997- 2002, and again in 2005. Under Bradley’s guidance, North Dakota State’s defense led the Great West Football Conference in scoring defense (13.7 points per game), pass defense (150.3 yards), total defense (272.4) and turnover margin (+1) in 2005.
Bradley was the head coach at Fort Lewis College for four months (December 1995 - March 1996) and was defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Fort Lewis for four seasons (1992-1995). Prior to Fort Lewis, he was a graduate assistant coach at NDSU for two seasons (1990-1991).
Bradley played collegiately at North Dakota State (1984-1988), where he was a free safety and punter, a four-time academic All-North Central Conference selection and a valuable member of the 1988 national championship football team. He earned his 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 and his wife, Michaela, have four children, Carter, Anna, Eli and Ella.
COACHING BACKGROUND: North Dakota State 1990-91, Fort Lewis College 1992-95, Fort Lewis College Dec. 1995–March 1996 (head coach), North Dakota State 1996-2005, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2006-08, Seattle Seahawks 2009-12, Jacksonville Jaguars 2013 (head coach)
