Terry Bradden Returns to Chiefs as Assistant DL Coach After One-Year Nebraska Detour
Terry Bradden is heading back to familiar territory - and a familiar winning culture - rejoining the Kansas City Chiefs as their assistant defensive line coach after a brief, turbulent stint with Nebraska.
Bradden’s return marks a reunion with the franchise where he spent eight seasons and collected three Super Bowl rings, including the last four years working under defensive line coach Joe Cullen. Now, he’s back in the building where he helped shape one of the NFL’s most disruptive defensive fronts.
This move comes after a challenging 2025 season in Lincoln, where Bradden took over Nebraska’s defensive line following the departure of Tony White and Terrance Knighton to Florida State. Despite arriving with high expectations - and even some endorsements from former Huskers who had played under him in Kansas City - the results didn’t match the hype. Nebraska’s defensive line struggled throughout the season, and just days after head coach Matt Rhule let go of defensive coordinator John Butler, Bradden was also shown the door.
Whether Bradden’s exit was about performance or simply a shift in defensive philosophy under new coordinator Rob Aurich remains unclear. Aurich is transitioning Nebraska from a 3-3-5 scheme to a 4-2-5 and has brought in his own staff to match that vision. In that context, Bradden’s departure may have been more about fit than failure.
But there’s no ambiguity about where Bradden stands with the Chiefs. His return isn’t just a homecoming - it’s a re-alignment with a system and staff that knows his value.
During his first run in Kansas City, Bradden played a key role in developing a defensive line that consistently applied pressure and anchored a championship-caliber defense. His familiarity with Cullen’s system and the locker room culture makes this a seamless transition.
The Chiefs, fresh off another deep postseason run, are looking to stay at the top of the AFC mountain. And while Bradden’s Nebraska chapter didn’t go as planned, his track record in the NFL speaks volumes. Back in a system that fits his strengths, with players who know his voice and a coaching staff that trusts his expertise, Bradden now has a chance to reassert himself on football’s biggest stage.
For Kansas City, this is more than a hire - it’s a reloaded weapon in the trenches.