Arizona Cardinals new head coach Mike LaFleur at a news conference on Feb. 3, 2026, at Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe.Syndication: Arizona Republic
GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals have spent over a week looking for their next defensive coordinator and thought they found him. The franchise had interest in former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach and Indianapolis Colts DC Gus Bradley for the position. According to senior NFL reporter Albert Breer, Arizona offered Bradley big money and defensive play calling. However, the 59-year-old took less money and a smaller role to join the Tennessee Titans and Robert Saleh’s staff.
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Sep 24, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Indianapolis Colts coach Gus Bradley during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Breer on Cardinals losing out on Bradley to Titans:
Albert Breer told us Arizona Cardinals offered Gus Bradley more money than the Titans and play calling but he chose Tennessee.
The Cards reportedly interviewed Aubrey Pleasant, Karl Scott, Charlie Bullen and others, but ultimately chose to return DC Nick Rallis for a 4th season pic.twitter.com/B6KKzo3HIq
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) February 13, 2026
Even when the Cardinals offered more money and a bigger role to an NFL veteran, like Bradley, they still get beaten out by the Titans. Saleh confirmed he’ll be the defensive play caller in 2026, meaning Bradley will have a similar role as LaFleur with the Rams being a coordinator by not calling plays.
As a 35-year coaching veteran, the interest of money or calling plays wasn’t a priority. He rather go into an environment with a coach he trust. From 2022-2024, Bradley was the DC for the Colts, where the team was 28th, 28th and 24th in points allowed. His last time coaching a successful defense was his stint with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Colts Defensive Coordinator and former Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley on the sideline during late fourth quarter action. The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, FL Sunday, October 15, 2023. The Jaguars ended the first half with a 21 to 6 lead and won with a final score of 37 to 20.
After being fired by the Jaguars in the 2016, Bradley joined the Chargers and turned them from the 29th scoring defense to 3rd. In 2018, Los Angeles went 12-4 with the eighth ranked defensive unit in the NFL. Bradley had helped fully turn the franchise around. However, the team success stalled the next two years and led to the firing of head coach Anthony Lynn, and Bradley was not asked to return.
He hasn’t been a part of a staff that has had an average defensive unit in the past five years he’s been a defensive coordinator. Regardless, Bradley would’ve been a stellar presence for a young head coach like LaFleur to have an experience coach in his staff. It wasn’t because of lack of trying by the Cardinals for Bradley, leading them to bringing back Nick Rallis as DC.
The saving grace of Cardinals retaining Nick Rallis as DC in 2026
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
