Gus Bradley is once again drawing serious interest around the league, and it looks like the Titans and Cardinals are leading the charge to bring him in as their next defensive coordinator.
Bradley, currently serving as the assistant head coach for the 49ers, has long been respected for his defensive acumen. He was once seen as a strong internal candidate to take over as San Francisco’s DC after Robert Saleh departed.
But when the 49ers opted to go with Raheem Morris instead, Bradley stayed in his assistant role. Now, with multiple DC openings around the NFL, his name is back in the mix-and for good reason.
According to reports, the Cardinals may have the upper hand in this race. The key factor?
Play-calling duties. With Arizona hiring Mike LaFleur-an offensive-minded coach-as their new head coach, the door is open for Bradley to take full control of the defense.
That’s a big draw for a veteran coach who’s spent years leading units on his own terms.
The Titans are also in the hunt, but if they strike out on Bradley, they could pivot to another name with ties to Saleh: Falcons defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg. Rutenberg worked under Saleh with the Jets and brings a modern, secondary-focused approach to defensive scheming. He’s younger, less experienced, but well-regarded in coaching circles.
Bradley, now 57, has built a résumé that spans nearly two decades in the NFL. His coaching journey began in 2006 with the Buccaneers, where he worked as a linebackers coach. From there, he made a name for himself in Seattle as the defensive coordinator, helping shape the early foundations of what would become the Legion of Boom.
That success landed him the head coaching job in Jacksonville in 2013. While his tenure there didn’t yield much in the win column-he went 14-47 over four seasons-it did help solidify his reputation as a teacher and leader, even if the results didn’t always follow.
After Jacksonville, Bradley found more success in coordinator roles. He led the Chargers' defense starting in 2017 and earned a three-year extension after just one season.
He later took over the Colts’ defense before being let go last offseason. Not long after, the 49ers brought him on board as assistant head coach, a move that gave their staff a veteran presence with deep experience in defensive scheming and player development.
Bradley’s coaching style leans on discipline, fundamentals, and a clear identity on defense. He’s not flashy, but his units are typically sound and well-prepared.
For a team like Arizona, which is looking to build a more balanced staff around an offensive head coach, Bradley could be the perfect complement. And for Tennessee, a team in transition, his experience could bring stability to a defense that’s been inconsistent in recent years.
Wherever he lands, one thing’s clear: Gus Bradley still has plenty to offer, and his next stop could play a big role in shaping one of the league’s emerging defenses.