Gus Bradley was hired by the Tennessee Titans as defensive coordinator on Feb. 4, 2026.

Bradley is entering his 37th year in coaching and his 21st year in the NFL. In 2026, he reunites with Titans head coach Robert Saleh after the duo previously served on the same staffs with the Seattle Seahawks (2011-12), Jacksonville Jaguars (2014-16) and San Francisco 49ers (2025).

During Bradley's time in the NFL, he has been a defensive coordinator for 12 total seasons with the Seahawks (2009-12), Los Angeles Chargers (2017-20), Las Vegas Raiders (2021) and Indianapolis Colts (2022-24). Additionally, he was the Jaguars head coach from 2013 to 2016.

As a member of the 49ers organization in 2025 under head coach Kyle Shanahan, Bradley was the assistant head coach of defense while Saleh was the defensive coordinator. The staff led the 49ers to a 12-5 record in the regular season and a playoff berth despite significant injuries to several players, including All-Pro defensive lineman Nick Bosa and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner.

From 2022 through 2024, Bradley was the defensive coordinator in Indianapolis. 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. Linebacker Zaire Franklin earned Pro Bowl and second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors after leading the NFL with 173 tackles. In 2023, Indianapolis ranked fifth in sacks (51) as defensive lineman DeForest Buckner earned the third Pro Bowl appearance of his career. In Bradley's first season in Indianapolis in 2022, Franklin set then-career highs in tackles (166), passes defensed (six), sacks (three) 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, defensive lineman Maxx Crosby and linebacker Denzel Perryman were each named to the Pro Bowl, with Crosby finishing with eight 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 defensive lineman Joey Bosa (2018, 2020-21) and defensive lineman Melvin Ingram III (2018-20) each 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 safety Derwin James Jr. earned first-team AP 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). Cornerback Casey Hayward earned his second consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl.

As Jacksonville's head coach, the 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, tying 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 linebacker Paul Posluszny set career highs with 137 tackles and three sacks.

Before his tenure in Jacksonville, Bradley spent four seasons (2009-12) as the defensive coordinator for the Seahawks. The 2012 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 defensive lineman Bruce Irvin and linebacker Bobby Wagner in their rookie seasons. Irvin was the 15th overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft and led all rookies with eight sacks, while Wagner (second round, 47th overall) ranked second among rookies in tackles (140) and fourth in interceptions (three). Under Bradley, safety Earl Thomas earned first-team AP All-Pro honors and his second-consecutive Pro Bowl nod, while second-year cornerback Richard Sherman earned first-team AP All-Pro honors after leading the team and tying for second in the NFL with eight interceptions.

In 2011, Bradley's defensive unit in Seattle ranked fourth in opponent yards per rush attempt (3.79), fifth in turnover differential (plus-eight), 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 safety Kam Chancellor, cornerback 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 coach (2008). During Bradley's tenure, linebacker Derrick Brooks earned Pro Bowl nods in 2007 and 2009.

Prior to his NFL career, Bradley totaled 16 years as a coach in the college ranks. He launched his career at his alma mater, 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 of 1996. Bradley returned to North Dakota State later in 1996 and spent the next 10 seasons (1996-05) there 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, Minn., Bradley played at North Dakota State from 1984 to 1988 as a safety and punter. He was a four-time academic All-North Central Conference selection and a part of three NCAA Division II Football Championships (1984, 1987-88). He earned 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 played quarterback at the University of South Alabama and has spent time in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco 49ers and is currently with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

GUS BRADLEY'S COACHING TIMELINE

2026: Defensive Coordinator – Tennessee Titans

2025: Assistant Head Coach of Defense – San Francisco 49ers

2022-24: Defensive Coordinator – Indianapolis Colts

2021: Defensive Coordinator – Las Vegas Raiders

2017-20: Defensive Coordinator – Los Angeles Chargers

2013-16: Head Coach – Jacksonville Jaguars

2009-12: Defensive Coordinator – Seattle Seahawks

2007-08: Linebackers – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2006: Defensive Quality Control – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2005: Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator – North Dakota State University

2003-04: Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers – North Dakota State University

2000-02: Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator – North Dakota State University

1997-99: Defensive Coordinator – North Dakota State University

1996: Linebackers – North Dakota State University

1992-95: Defensive Coordinator – Fort Lewis College

1990-91: Graduate Assistant – North Dakota State University