Raiders hire Gus Bradley to be next DC.
The Las Vegas Raiders hired Gus Bradley as their new defensive coordinator Tuesday with the task of turning around one of the league’s worst units.
Coach Jon Gruden decided to bring on the experienced Bradley to fill the role Paul Guenther had for the first twoplus seasons on his staff before being fired in December.
“This is an exciting defense to play and I would say that the players will be very excited to be a part of it because they know that they’re going to have the ability to play fast,” Bradley said. “I think our job as coaches is really to evaluate the players and put them in position to where they can make plays.”
Bradley got his start in the NFL on Gruden’s staffs in Tampa Bay from 2006-08 before heading to Seattle, where he served as defensive coordinator for four seasons. He helped build a dominant defense for the Seahawks that went on to win the Super Bowl the year after he left for a head coaching job in Jacksonville.
Bradley struggled with the Jaguars, going 14-48 before getting fired late in his fourth season. He then returned to a defensive coordinator role the past four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.
He takes over a Raiders defense in need of major improvement. Since Gruden returned in 2018 with Guenther as his defensive coordinator, the Raiders allowed the most points in the NFL, had the fewest sacks, the second-fewest takeaways and allowed the second-most yards per play.
Salute to Service Award
San Francisco 49ers General Manager John Lynch, Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona, and Falcons executive Steve Cannon are finalists for the NFL Salute to Service Award.
Now in its 10th year, the award recognizes exceptional efforts to honor and support members of the military community. It will be presented Feb. 6, the night before the Super Bowl.
USAA, a provider of insurance and other services to U.S. military members, veterans and their families, will contribute $25,000 in the award recipient’s honor to the official aid societies representing all five military branches. The NFL will match USAA’s donation of $25,000, which will be donated to the award recipient’s military charity of choice.
Lynch attended Torrey Pines High, and Cardona went to Granite Hills.
Two teams, one playoffs
Offensive tackle Jared Veldheer is back with the Packers, giving him an opportunity to compete in playoff games for different teams on back-toback weekends.
Veldheer, 33, was the Colts’ starting left tackle for their final two games, including a 27-24 AFC first-round playoff loss to the Bills last weekend.
Because the Colts merely elevated him from the practice squad for game day and didn’t officially sign him to their 53man roster, the Packers were able to sign him this week.
Notable
The Bills signed running back Devonta Freeman to their practice squad to add veteran depth after placing rookie Zack Moss on injured reserve.
• The Seahawks agreed to a contract extension with GM John Schneider that will keep him tied to the franchise through the 2027 draft.
• Anthony Castonzo, the Colts longtime left tackle, announced his retirement.
• Bengals QB Joe Burrow expects to start running on his surgically repaired left knee next month and is confident he’ll be ready to start the 2021 season.