The Indianapolis Colts fired defensive coordinator Gus Bradley on Monday after his third season with the team.
“I’m appreciative of Gus and the commitment he made to the Colts,” head coach Shane Steichen said. “He is a man of great character, and I have the utmost respect for him. I felt like we needed to move in a different direction. I wish Gus and his family all the best moving forward.”
Indianapolis’ defense was never dominant under Bradley, who took over in 2022 after Matt Eberflus left to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
The Colts allowed the third-most points in the NFL in 2022, the fifth-most in 2023 and the ninth-most in 2024. On top of that, Bradley’s defenses regressed in yards allowed per game and sacks each season. Indianapolis finished 29th and tied for 25th in those respective categories in 2024.
The Colts exited their bye week this season at 6-7 but surrendered at least 30 points over their next three games, losing two of them to fall out of playoff contention. Perhaps the defense’s worst showing came in a Week 17 loss that officially knocked Indianapolis out of the playoff race. Bradley’s unit allowed 38 points in a 45-33 defeat to a New York Giants team that ended its 100th season with a franchise-record 14 losses.
“The overall performance (in Week 17) was embarrassing and as a leader, it’s my responsibility for our overall play and I take that responsibility,” Bradley said before the regular-season finale, per The Athletic.
“It’s our job to put players in position to make the plays and to make the calls that allow them to be successful and we didn’t get that done (against the Giants).”
The Colts beat Jacksonville 26-23 in overtime on Sunday to finish the season 8-9. They have not made the playoffs since 2020.
Bradley, 58, previously spent time as a defensive coordinator with Seattle (2009-12), the Los Angeles Chargers (2017-20) and Las Vegas (2021). He also went 14-48 in four seasons as the Jaguars’ head coach before being fired during the 2016 campaign.