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Terry Bradden returns to Kansas City in 2026 and enters his ninth season with the Chiefs after spending last season at the University of Nebraska. This will mark Bradden's fifth season with the Chiefs as the assistant defensive line coach. Bradden spent his first three seasons as a defensive quality control coach (2018-20), followed by one season as a defensive assistant (2017).

Terry Bradden returns to Kansas City in 2026 and enters his ninth season with the Chiefs after spending last season at the University of Nebraska. This will mark Bradden's fifth season with the Chiefs as the assistant defensive line coach. Bradden spent his first three seasons as a defensive quality control coach (2018-20), followed by one season as a defensive assistant (2017).

In 2025, Bradden spent one season at the University of Nebraska coaching the defensive line. With six of the team's nine defensive lineman in their first or second season in the Husker program, Bradden was able to help Nebraska rank 30th nationally in total defense. The team's three starting defensive linemen produced career highs in tackles and freshmen DEs Williams Nwaneri and Kade Pietrzak combined for 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

In 2024, Bradden coached in his third-straight Super Bowl (LVII, LVIII and LIX). The team recorded a franchise-best 15-2 regular season record and with Bradden's assistance, the defensive front had a standout year. DE George Karlaftis starred with 28 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, and five passes defensed. DT Chris Jones earned his sixth career Pro Bowl nomination and third AP All-Pro selection (first-team) after 20 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks throughout the season.

In 2023, Bradden assisted the defensive line who helped the defense finish top two in the NFL in sacks for the second-straight year (57.0; -351 yards). The defense's 57.0 sacks were the second-most in a single season in Chiefs history. The defensive line was led by DT Chris Jones and DE George Karlaftis, who both led the team in sacks with 10.5 each. Jones recorded his second-consecutive season with double-digit sacks and added 29 quarterback pressures, 13 tackles for loss and four passes defensed. He was voted by his teammates to be a playoff captain for the second-straight year, an AP All-Pro first-team selection and earned his fifth Pro Bowl. In just his second year, Karlaftis had 17 quarterback pressures, seven tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Bradden helped lead the defense to allow just 17.3 points per game which was second-fewest in the league, allowed the fewest second-half points in the league (126), had three second-half shutouts and allowed no more than 27 points in a game during the season – including the postseason. With Bradden's assistance, the dominant defensive line helped the Chiefs secure back-to-back Super Bowl titles (LVII and LVIII).

Bradden worked closely with Joe Cullen and the defensive line in 2022, helping guide the defensive front to 55.0 sacks (-388 yards), which was the second-most in the league en route to the club's eventual Super Bowl LVII victory. DT Chris Jones tied his own season-high sack number of 15.5, which he previously notched in 2018 and secured his fourth-consecutive Pro Bowl nomination. Jones highlighted his season when he took down elusive Bengals QB Joe Burrow in the AFC Championship Game (1/29/23) for 2.0 sacks. His performance through the 2022 season earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Year (101 Awards), an AP All-Pro first-team selection and was voted by his teammates to be a playoff captain. Bradden also helped mentor rookie DE George Karlaftis to 6.0 sacks (-40.0 yards) with seven passes defensed and 11 quarterback pressures. Karlaftis' 6.0 sacks was the fifth-most for a rookie in franchise history.

In 2021, Bradden worked alongside Brendan Daly overseeing the defensive line. DT Chris Jones led the team with 9.0 sacks (-65.5 yards), including a single-game career-high of 3.5 sacks of Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (11/21/21), en route to his third Pro Bowl selection. DE Frank Clark ranked second on the team with 4.5 sacks (-23.5 yards). Both DE Mike Danna and DT Derrick Nnadi posted career highs in sacks that season with 3.0 each.

In 2020, as a defensive quality control coach Bradden worked mostly with a defensive line that included Pro Bowlers DT Chris Jones and DE Frank Clark. Jones and Clark ranked first and second on the team in sacks with 7.5 and 6.0, respectively. Jones was named to the AP All-Pro (second-team) and named to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career.

In 2019, Bradden primarily worked with the defensive backs. He worked with S Tyrann Mathieu who was nominated to the AP All-Pro Team for the second time and CB Charvarius Ward who had a productive season, recording 74 tackles (56 solo), 10 passes defensed and two interceptions.

Bradden spent the 2018 season working with the defensive line including third-year DT Chris Jones who led the team with 15.5 sacks (-122.0 yards), ranking third in the NFL. He spent the 2017 season working closely with the defensive backs unit under the tutelage of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Chiefs Hall of Famer Emmitt Thomas.

Prior to joining the Chiefs, Bradden served as a quarterback graduate assistant at Bethune Cookman University for the 2016 season. He was named to the first American Football Coaches Association Top 30 Under 30 class that year.

Before his season in Daytona Beach, Bradden spent the 2014 season at Florida Atlantic University as the quality control special teams coach before returning to his alma mater, Inlet Grove High School as the head football coach and athletic director for the 2015 season. During the 2015 season, he claimed the title of the youngest head football coach and athletic director in the state of Florida at the age of 24. Bradden played two seasons at Inlet Grove, leading the Hurricanes to consecutive Class 2A regional semifinal berths as a junior and senior (2008-09).

The Riviera Beach, Fla., native played quarterback for three seasons at Howard University (2009-11) in Washington, D.C., before transferring to Tuskegee University (2011-13), where he also played quarterback and graduated with a degree in social work.

Education: Tuskegee University (B.S. 2014). Born: Riviera Beach, Fla. Family: Wife - Kendall; Sons - Christopher and Carter.