COSTA MESA, Calif. -- The Green Bay Packers have requested permission to interview Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, even though his one-year deal expired on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Seattle Seahawks also reportedly have interest in Bradley, an expected hot commodity this offseason.
In his first season with the Chargers, Bradley turned the Bolts into one of the best defensive units in the NFL. The Chargers allowed just 17 points per contest, good for No. 3 in the league.
Led by Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, the Chargers totaled 43 sacks in 2017, tied for fifth in the NFL. The Chargers also finished with 18 interceptions, tied for sixth in the league.
Chargers GM Tom Telesco said one of the team’s priorities this offseason was retaining all of the coordinators, including Bradley.
“You’d love to keep continuity with players and coaches, to be honest with you. It’s hard to do in this league,” Telesco said. “With our coaching staff, we’d love to keep all three coordinators. That’s what we plan to do.”
Bradley served as the defensive coordinator in Seattle from 2009 to 2012 and remains close to head coach Pete Carroll.
Carroll said after the conclusion of a season in which the Seahawks did not make the playoffs for the first time since 2011 that he has no plans to retire. However, with Carroll set to turn 67 in September, bringing in someone like Bradley would give the Seahawks a succession plan should Carroll plan to move on from the game in the near future.
Current Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard interviewed for the Indianapolis Colts head coaching job last week, so Bradley could be a potential replacement should Richard move on. The Seahawks also could offer Bradley more money by making him an assistant head coach.
I asked Bradley what his plans for the future before the conclusion of the season, and this is what he had to say: “I mean it sounds like coach-talk, but I haven’t even thought about it. I think all of those things will take care of itself. I really enjoy it here, the players and the staff. ... And I’ve always been a believer that those things will take care of themselves.”
If Bradley does move on, a potential replacement for the Chargers could already be in the building in secondary coach Ron Milus.