Gus Bradley was once a successful defensive mind when he originated the famous “Legion of Boom” defense with the Seattle Seahawks. This was a unit that took over the NFL in the 2010s and was one of the most elite defenses of the century. This was all thanks to the scheme and coaching of Gus Bradley. Since that incredible tenure from 2009-2012, though, he has not gained the kind of success that he once had. He would coach several different teams before finally landing in Indianapolis. Based on his current three-year record with the Colts, Gus Bradley is on the hot seat and should be one of the top candidates to be fired in 2025.

Gus Bradley signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 and has created a mediocre, at best, defense since then. While, at times, the defense has looked elite, the inconsistency has outweighed any semblance of competence. This season has been a culmination of a lack of effort and execution, which has translated into a season defined as consistently problematic. With one game left against a bad football team in the Jacksonville Jaguars, Gus Bradley won’t be able to salvage anything good from this year and has a legitimate case to be fired.

Why Gus Bradley Should be Fired at the End of This Season

Gus Bradley’s Previous Tenure

Gus Bradley made a name for himself when he coached the famous, “Legion of Boom” defense. This was a unit that ranked at the top in almost every major category. This unit, originally built by Bradley, would go on to bring a Super Bowl to Seattle in 2014. It was in this game that they destroyed Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos 43-8. Upon having great success in Seattle, Gus Bradley went on to be the head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but in four seasons, he only managed 14 wins before getting fired mid-season in 2016. 

It was after this one stint as a head coach that Bradley stuck with being a defensive coordinator. In 2017, he was the coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers until moving to Las Vegas to be the coordinator for the Raiders. After a dysfunctional one season with the Raiders, he moved on to the Indianapolis Colts. Gus Bradley was never fired by the Chargers or Raiders. He, rather, just transitioned his position from one team to another. 

Leading up to his stint with the Colts, he managed to keep the Chargers as a solid-rated defense early on. His Chargers ranked in the top ten in points allowed in his first two seasons. Unfortunately, they would begin to fall off on their efficiency. Thus, it translated to his stint with the Raiders as they would maintain a level of inconsistency. They would be strong in one area but very weak in another. Unfortunately, the signs were already written in the sky that Bradley was just on the decline as a coach. The Colts did not see it and took a chance on him, knowing that he was once one of the best defensive minds in the league in the early 2010s.

His Current Tenure with the Indianapolis Colts

Before hiring Gus Bradley, the Colts had Matt Eberflus as their defensive coordinator. Eberflus left Indy to take a head coaching job with the Chicago Bears. He, subsequently, left some big shoes to fill. From 2018-2021, Eberflus had the Colts playing very consistent defense that translated into consistent effort and execution. This unit was by no means elite or perfect, but they were never a liability. The Colts hired Gus Bradley with the hope that he could build off what Eberflus put in place and flourish. Alas, this was not to be and the signs were there that this was never to be.

Since leading the Colts defense in 2022, Bradley’s unit has continued the model of inconsistency that was first implemented when he coached the  Chargers and then the Raiders. In 2022 and 2023, the Colts only ranked top 10 in only two major categories which were sacks and rushing average. 2024, however, they are only looking at finishing top 10 in one major category which is rushing average. This defense has done nothing good this season. It is on pace to finish outside the top 25 in points per game, yards per game, and third-down conversions.

Needless to say, this Colts defense has been at an all-time low this season and they aren’t trending upward. There won’t be much to salvage at the end of this season, but one thing must ring true and that is that Gus Bradley needs to be fired this offseason or at the end of the regular season.

Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports

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