Bill Bradley

Under Bradley, the Chargers led the NFL in interceptions (30) during the regular season for the first time in team history. The Bolts also led the league in picks during the playoffs with six. The Bolts’ 30 interceptions in the regular season were the most by a San Diego defense in 38 years (1969). The Chargers also led the NFL in total takeaways (48) and turnover margin (+24). 

Where the Chargers’ defense was most impressive however was early in the third quarter. Demonstrating their ability to make key halftime adjustments, the Chargers’ four interceptions on their opponents’ first drive of the third quarter were also a league-high. That trend continued in the playoffs with the Chargers intercepting their opponents on the first drive of the third quarter in both the Divisional Playoffs and the AFC Championship Game.

 

Thanks in part to their prowess in forcing turnovers, the Bolts’ defense also led the NFL in opponent passer rating (70.0) during the regular season. It was the first time the Chargers ever led the NFL in that category. In the playoffs, the Chargers’ 76.7 opponent passer rating was fourth-best among the 12 playoff teams.

 

Bradley’s last NFL posts before joining the Chargers were with the Buffalo Bills (1998-00) and New York Jets (2001-03). He was the defensive backs coach for both teams and in Buffalo and New York, he worked on the same staff as the Chargers’ current defensive coordinator, Ted Cottrell.

 

In Buffalo, Bradley’s secondary led the NFL in pass defense in 1999 and ranked fourth in 2000. Buffalo made the playoffs following the 1998 and ’99 seasons.  During two of Bradley’s three seasons in New York, the Jets ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in pass defense, finishing seventh in 2001 and 10th in 2003. The Jets made the playoffs as a Wild Card team in 2001 and won AFC East in 2002. In 2003, the Jets’ defense held the Indianapolis Colts scoreless in a 41-0 AFC Wild Card victory.

 

Bradley left the NFL after the 2003 season to return to his native Texas and serve as the defensive coordinator at Baylor University. In 2005, Baylor ranked 13th in the nation in pass efficiency and allowed the fewest total yards, rushing yards and points per game by a Bears’ squad since 1995.

 

A native of Palestine, Texas, Bradley was a high school All-America quarterback and defensive back who led his team to the 1965 state title. He went on to a standout collegiate career as a quarterback, defensive back and punter/holder at the University of Texas, serving as a tri-captain as a senior on the Longhorns’ 1968 team that finished the season 9-1-1. That ’68 team captured a share of the Southwest Conference championship and beat Tennessee in the Cotton Bowl, 36-13. The Longhorns finished the year ranked third in the final AP poll and fifth in the season-ending UPI poll. In his final regular season game against arch-rival Texas A&M, Bradley set a school single-game record with four interceptions in the Longhorns’ 35-14 win over the Aggies, a mark that stands as the best-ever by a SWC performer.

 

Selected in the third round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Eagles as a punter/player, Bradley went on to earn three All-Pro awards (1971-73) at free safety. In addition to punting, he also saw time as the Eagles’ kick returner. Bradley, who led the NFL in interceptions in both 1971 (11) and 1972 (nine), became the first player ever to lead the league in interceptions in consecutive seasons, a feat that has been matched just one time since. Bradley still holds the team record for career interception return yards (536). He also set Philadelphia’s single-season marks for interceptions (11) and return yards (249) in 1971. Bradley shares the Eagles’ all-time interception record (34) with Eric Allen.

 

Bradley played in a total of 114 NFL games, spending the 1969-76 seasons with the Eagles and the 1977 campaign with both the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Cardinals.

 

Bradley is a member of the Texas High School, the University of Texas and the Philadelphia Eagles Halls of Fame. He and his wife, Susan, have two children: Matthew and Carissa.