Gus Bradley is in his first season as the 49ers assistant head coach of defense. He joins the 49ers after spending the previous three seasons (2022-24) as the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts.
The 2024 Colts finished the season tied for the third-most forced fumbles (17) and tied for the fifth-most interceptions (16) in the NFL. LB Zaire Franklin earned Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors after leading the NFL with 173 tackles. In 2023, Indianapolis ranked fifth in sacks (51) as DL DeForest Buckner earned the third Pro Bowl appearance of his career. In his first season in Indianapolis in 2022, Franklin set then-career highs in tackles (166), passes defensed (six), sacks (3.0) and forced fumbles (three).
Prior to joining the Colts, Bradley spent the 2021 season as the defensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders. Under Bradley, DL Maxx Crosby and LB Denzel Perryman were each named to the Pro Bowl, with Crosby finishing with 8.0 sacks and Perryman registering a team-high 154 tackles.
Bradley went to Las Vegas following four seasons (2017-20) as the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers. Over that span, Bradley helped DL Joey Bosa (2018 & 2020-21) and DL Melvin Ingram III (2018-20) earn multiple trips to the Pro Bowl.
In 2020, the Chargers defense ranked 10th in the NFL in total defense (343.4) and ninth in passing yards per game allowed (223.6). Bradley's defense held opponents to the sixth-fewest yards per game (313.1) and the fifth-fewest passing yards per game average (200.3) in 2019. In 2018, the Chargers were ninth in the NFL in total defense (333.7) and ninth in passing defense (227.9) as S Derwin James Jr. earned Associated Press First-Team All-Pro honors.
Under Bradley, the 2017 Chargers ranked third in the NFL in points per game allowed (17.0) and passing yards per game allowed (197.3). CB Casey Hayward earned his second-consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl.
Bradley spent more than three seasons (2013-16) as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars defense finished the 2016 season ranked sixth in yards per game allowed (321.7) and fifth in passing yards per game allowed (215.3). In 2015, Jacksonville's offense produced 44 touchdowns, the third-most in team history, as the team scored 376 points. The 2014 Jaguars finished the season with 45 sacks, ranking tied for sixth in the NFL, as the team led the NFL with 12 sack-fumbles and ranked third with 19 total forced fumbles. In his first season in Jacksonville (2013), Bradley helped LB Paul Posluszny set career highs in tackles (137) and sacks (3.0).
Before his tenure in Jacksonville, Bradley spent four seasons (2009-12) as the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. In 2012, the Seahawks led the NFL by holding opponents to a franchise-low 15.3 points per game. Bradley's defense held opponents to 306.2 yards per game, which ranked fourth in the NFL, while also finishing 10th in rushing defense (103.1) and sixth in passing defense (203.1). Bradley also coached DL Bruce Irvin and LB Bobby Wagner in their rookie seasons. Irvin was the 15th overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft and led all rookies with 8.0 sacks, while Wagner (second round, 47th overall) ranked second among rookies in tackles (140), and fourth in interceptions (three). Under Bradley, S Earl Thomas earned Associated Press First-Team All-Pro honors and his second-consecutive Pro Bowl nod, while second-year CB Richard Sherman earned Associated Press First-Team All-Pro honors after leading the team and tying for second in the NFL with eight interceptions.
In 2011, Bradley's defensive unit ranked fourth in opponent yards per rush attempt (3.79), fifth in turnover differential (+8), fifth in takeaways (31), seventh in points allowed per game (19.7) and ninth in yards per game (332.2). Bradley's defensive unit also saw three players in their secondary earn Pro Bowl nods in S Kam Chancellor, CB Brandon Browner and Thomas.
Bradley first entered the NFL coaching ranks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he spent three seasons (2006-08) working under head coach Jon Gruden and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin as the linebackers coach (2006-07) and defensive quality control (2008). Under Bradley's tenure, he helped LB Derrick Brooks earn two Pro Bowl nods (2007 & 2009).
Bradley began his coaching career at North Dakota State where he spent two seasons (1990-91) as a graduate assistant followed by a four-year run as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Fort Lewis College (1992-95). He also briefly served as the head coach at Fort Lewis at the beginning part of 1996. Bradley returned to North Dakota State in 1996 and spent the next 10 seasons (1996-05) serving in a number of different roles, including linebackers coach (1996), defensive coordinator (1997-99), assistant head coach/defensive coordinator (2000-02 & 2005) and assistant head coach/linebackers (2003-04). As NDSU's defensive coordinator in 2005, the Bison led the Great West Football Conference in scoring defense, pass defense, total defense and turnover margin.
A native of Zumbrota, MN, Bradley played collegiately at North Dakota State (1984-88), where he was a safety/punter, a four-time academic All-North Central Conference selection and a part of three NCAA Division II Football Championships (1984 & 1987-88). He earned a 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 in 1992. Bradley and his wife, Michaela, have four children: Carter, Anna, Eli and Ella. Carter is a quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders.
