Bradlee Anae Bio
Bradlee Joseph Ioane Anae is an American professional football linebacker and defensive lineman currently on the roster of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Born on October 17, 1998, in Laie, Hawaii, he is of Samoan descent. Anae played college football for the Utah Utes, where he emerged as one of the top defensive linemen in the Pac-12 Conference and set the school’s career sack record. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys and has since played for several professional teams in both the National Football League and the CFL.
Early Life and Background
Bradlee Joseph Ioane Anae grew up in Laie, Hawaii, a small coastal community on the North Shore of Oahu. He attended Kahuku High & Intermediate School, where he was a multi-sport athlete participating in basketball, football, and track. As a senior, he helped lead the football team to a 13-0 record and a Division I state championship in Hawaii. His performance earned him All-State and second-team All-USA Hawaii honors. Rated a three-star college recruit, Anae chose to play football at the University of Utah over scholarship offers from Vanderbilt and BYU.
Anae’s commitment to Utah was influenced by family ties to the program. His older sister, Adora, was a volleyball scholar-athlete at the university, which helped make the school a comfortable fit for him. Coming from a family with deep football roots, he was also motivated by the chance to develop his game at a major college program. His upbringing in Laie, a community known for its strong athletic culture and Polynesian heritage, helped shape his early work ethic and love for the sport.
Path to American Football
At Kahuku High School, Anae played multiple positions on the football team and used his senior season to establish himself as one of the top defensive prospects in Hawaii. His success in high school, combined with his physical tools and competitive drive, drew attention from several college programs. After evaluating his options, he signed with the Utah Utes, where he would eventually rewrite the school’s record book for quarterbacks sacks.
Once at Utah, Anae quickly adapted to the speed and physicality of Division I college football. He appeared in six games as a true freshman and earned an expanded role as a sophomore, starting ten games and leading the team in sacks. By his junior year, he had developed into one of the most disruptive defensive ends in the Pac-12 Conference, leading the league in sacks and earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors. His steady climb through the Utah depth chart set the stage for a dominant senior season and a future in professional football.
Bradlee Anae Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Anae spent four seasons with the Utah Utes from 2016 through 2019, gradually becoming the centerpiece of the team’s defensive line. He played in six games during his freshman year as a backup defensive end, recording four tackles and two sacks. As a sophomore, he started ten games and posted 39 total tackles, 7.0 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 10 tackles for loss while tying for the team lead in tackles for loss.
During his junior campaign, Anae started all 14 games and led the Pac-12 Conference with 8.0 sacks. He also finished third in the conference with 15.5 tackles for loss, earning first-team All-Pac-12 recognition. In his senior season, he started all 14 games at left defensive end and tied the Utah career sack record before breaking it in the 2019 Alamo Bowl against the University of Texas, finishing his college career with 30 sacks, the most in school history.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2020–2021)
Bradlee Joseph Ioane Anae entered the 2020 NFL Draft after a standout senior season and was selected in the fifth round with the 179th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys. His draft stock had slipped after concerns about his testing numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine, but the Cowboys valued his production and pass-rushing instincts. As a rookie, he appeared in the first six games of the 2020 season, mostly contributing on special teams with limited defensive snaps. After defensive end Randy Gregory returned from a suspension, Anae was declared inactive in nine of the final ten contests of the year.
In his second season with Dallas, Anae was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in September 2021 before being activated in October. His time with the team ended abruptly on November 2, 2021, when he was waived after committing a defensive offsides penalty on a critical fourth-down play against the Minnesota Vikings. He was re-signed to the practice squad two days later and appeared in four more games as a backup defensive end, finishing his Cowboys career with a small number of defensive tackles.
New York Jets Era (2022–2024)
On January 19, 2022, Anae signed a reserve/future contract with the New York Jets, beginning a recurring relationship with the franchise. He was waived at the end of training camp in August and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. On January 7, 2023, he was promoted to the active roster to provide depth for the season finale against the Miami Dolphins. In 2023, he returned to compete for a roster spot but was placed on injured reserve on May 25 and later became an unrestricted free agent.
Anae returned to the Jets later that year, with the team signing him to their practice squad on December 18, 2024. The Jets ultimately did not sign him to a reserve/future contract at the end of the 2024 season, leaving him as a free agent heading into 2025. Across his multiple stints with the organization, he provided depth at defensive end and contributed primarily on special teams.
BC Lions Era (2025–Present)
After a brief stop with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 and time in the United Football League with the Birmingham Stallions, Anae signed as a defensive lineman with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League on September 9, 2025. He was placed on the Lions’ one-game injured list on September 18, 2025, but rejoined the active roster one week later on September 25. During the first day of training camp for the 2026 CFL season, Anae was suspended by the Lions for failure to report, putting his status with the team temporarily in question.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Anae’s career came in the 2019 Alamo Bowl, where he broke Utah’s all-time career sack record with a half-sack against the University of Texas, finishing his college career with 30 sacks. He was also a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award and earned Defensive MVP honors at the 2020 Senior Bowl after recording three sacks.
Bradlee Anae Career Wins
College Highlights
During his time at the University of Utah, Bradlee Joseph Ioane Anae set the school career sack record with 30 sacks, surpassing the previous mark of 29.5 he had tied earlier in his senior season. He also set school records with 210 sack yards and 245 tackles for loss yards, while ranking fourth in school history with 41.5 tackles for loss. His play helped the Utes reach postseason bowl games in each of his final three seasons, including the 2019 Alamo Bowl.
Bradlee Anae Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Football runs deep in the Anae family. His father, Brad Anae, played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was an honorable mention All-American in 1980 and a third-team All-America selection in 1981. Brad Anae went on to play three seasons in the United States Football League. Anae’s two uncles, Matt and Robert Anae, also played at BYU, and Robert Anae currently serves as the offensive coordinator at NC State University.
Personal Life
Bradlee Joseph Ioane Anae is of Samoan descent and remains closely connected to his family roots in Laie, Hawaii. His older sister, Adora, was a volleyball scholar-athlete at the University of Utah, helping shape his decision to attend the school. He continues to maintain an active presence on social media, where he shares updates about his professional career and family life.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a transitional year for Bradlee Joseph Ioane Anae, as he bounced between multiple professional rosters in search of a stable opportunity. He began the year with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL, then had a brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers in August before being placed on injured reserve and released. His most significant move came on September 9, 2025, when he signed as a defensive lineman with the BC Lions of the CFL, providing him with a fresh start in a new league.
With the Lions, Anae saw limited early action after a short stay on the one-game injured list, but he rejoined the active roster by late September. He continued to add experience to a defensive line rotation, working to carve out a role as a pass rusher. As the 2026 CFL season approached, the Lions suspended Anae on the first day of training camp for failure to report, creating uncertainty around his immediate future with the team.