| Hartford Colonials | |
| Secondary coach | |
| Safety / Kick returner / Punter / Quarterback | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: January 24, 1947 | |
| Place of birth: Palestine, Texas | |
| Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | Weight: 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: Texas | |
| NFL Draft: 1969 / Round: 3 / Pick: 69 | |
| Debuted in 1969 for the Philadelphia Eagles | |
| Last played in 1977 for the St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) | |
| Career history | |
| As player: |
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As coach:
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| Career highlights and awards | |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
| Stats at pro-football-reference.com | |
William Calvin "Bill" Bradley (born January 24, 1947 in Palestine, Texas) is an American football coach and former defensive back in the National Football League. He played with the Philadelphia Eagles for most of his career. He is currently the secondary coach for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League.[1]
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A native of Palestine, Texas, Bradley was a renowned quarterback at Palestine High School, where his running and passing skills gained him selection as a high school All-American. His remarkable talents, including the reputed ability to pass with either hand, earned him the nickname "Super Bill."
He entered the University of Texas at Austin in 1965 and joined Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, with great expectations and became the starting quarterback in 1966 as a sophomore. While a good running quarterback, he was never able to play up to his vaunted nickname, and eventually he was replaced at quarterback by James Street, who became a legend in his own right, coinciding with Texas's switch to the wishbone formation on offense. After a brief trial at wide receiver, he found his true calling at defensive back.
Bradley recorded a Texas single-game record of four interceptions in the Longhorns' 35-14 win over Texas A&M as a senior, a mark that still stands as the best-ever by a Southwest Conference performer. He played in the 1969 Hula Bowl, the Coaches All-America Game and the College All-Star Game. Bradley earned UT's 1968 D.H. Byrd Leadership Award.
Bradley was drafted in the third round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He went on to earn three All-Pro selections (1971–73) at free safety, including first team All-Pro in 1971 and 1972. In addition, he served as the Eagles' punter, punt returner, and kick returner. As a savvy free safety with great range, Bradley led the NFL in interceptions in both 1971 (11) and 1972 (9), the first player ever to lead the league in interceptions in consecutive seasons, a feat matched only once since. In 1971, he also lead the NFL in yards after an interception with 248. But these achievements did not draw widespread attention, because the Eagle win-lost-tie record for those 2 years was 6-7-1 and 2-11-1. He played his final year as the Eagle free safety in 1976, replaced by John Sanders (American football), ending his career as a punt and kick returner for the St. Louis Cardinals the following year.
Bradley is a member of the Texas High School, University of Texas, Philadelphia Eagles and Texas Sports Halls of Fame.
Bradley's first coaching assignment was as defensive backs coach for the San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football League in 1984-1985. He served as defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League.
He was defensive coordinator at Baylor University from 2004 until 2006, where he worked under head coach Guy Morriss, a former teammate with the Philadelphia Eagles.
During 2009 and 2010, he was the secondary coach for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League.
Bradley is now the secondary Coach of the Hartford Colonials in the UFL.
| Preceded by Marvin Kristynik |
University of Texas Quarterback 1966-1968 |
Succeeded by James Street |
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