Colts Part Ways with Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley After Struggling Season

The Indianapolis Colts announced Monday that they have parted ways with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley after three seasons with the team. The decision comes following a disappointing 8-9 season in which the Colts missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

Head coach Shane Steichen expressed gratitude for Bradley’s contributions in a statement, saying, ‘I’m appreciative of Gus and the commitment he made to the Colts. 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.’

Bradley, who joined the Colts in 2022 after a one-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders, oversaw a defense that struggled throughout the 2024 season. The Colts finished the regular season ranked fourth-worst in the NFL in yards allowed per game (361.2) and ninth-worst in scoring defense, giving up an average of 25.1 points per game.

Despite retaining head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard for the 2025 season, the Colts’ front office decided a change was necessary on the defensive side of the ball. Bradley, who has been a defensive coordinator or head coach since 2009, leaves Indianapolis with a mixed legacy, having previously led defenses for the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Raiders.

The Colts have not yet announced a replacement for Bradley, but the search for a new defensive coordinator is expected to begin immediately as the team looks to rebuild its defense ahead of the 2025 season.