Raiders hire Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator

The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebackers’ coach goes way back with Jon Gruden

It had appeared that Gus Bradley was Jon Gruden’s favorite to become the next defensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Raiders — and Tuesday the hire became official as the team announced him as their new DC.

Bradley was Gruden’s linebackers’ coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2006-08.

The Raiders also interviewed former Dallas and Seattle assistant Kris Richard for the position and were interested in Los Angeles Rams linebackers coach Joe Barry. All three men had close connections with Gruden.

Richard, who worked with Raiders defensive line coach Rod Marinelli in Dallas, could be a candidate to join the staff in a lesser role. He worked with Bradley in Seattle

Bradley knows the Raiders well. He was the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers until head coach Anthony Lynn was fired last week, and the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks at the beginning of the Legion of Boom era. Bradley also had an unsuccessful four-season run as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Bradley is known for working with defensive backfields and with a lot invested in their young secondary — that appealed to the Raiders who need to get more out of that group in 2021.

That secondary and fixing the pass rush is the top priority for Bradley. He replaces Paul Guenther, who was fired in December after a woeful season on defense. Guenther came to the Raiders with Gruden in 2018. Now, Gruden hopes Bradley is his answer moving forward in Las Vegas.