Carter Bradley Bio
Carter Roy Bradley (born March 9, 2000) is an American professional football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). A former undrafted free agent, Bradley has spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers before joining Jacksonville. He played college football for the Toledo Rockets and the South Alabama Jaguars, finishing his senior year as one of the most productive passers in South Alabama history. Bradley is the son of longtime NFL coach Gus Bradley.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 213 pounds, Bradley is a pocket-style quarterback whose career has been shaped by patience and perseverance. After going undrafted in 2024, he has continued to develop through practice-squad opportunities and reserve contracts across the league. His journey from a three-star recruit in Jacksonville, Florida, to an NFL roster offers a clear example of steady work paying off in professional football.
Early Life and Background
Carter Roy Bradley was born on March 9, 2000, in Fargo, North Dakota. Although he was born in the Midwest, his family later moved to Florida, where he attended Providence School in Jacksonville. Coming from a football family, Bradley grew up around the game, and his early interest in playing quarterback developed during his high school years in northeast Florida.
As a high school prospect, Bradley was rated a three-star recruit. Despite the modest rating, he drew a long list of college offers from programs including Colorado State, East Carolina, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Indiana, Louisville, Ole Miss, Pitt, Rutgers, South Florida, Temple, West Virginia, Western Michigan, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. This range of options reflected the attention his arm talent and poise generated among college scouts.
Bradley ultimately chose to begin his college career at the University of Toledo, a Mid-American Conference program known for developing quarterbacks. His decision to leave North Dakota for Toledo set the foundation for a college journey that would eventually include a transfer and a record-setting senior season at the next level.
Path to American Football
Bradley’s introduction to competitive football came through Providence School, where he developed the passing mechanics and decision-making that would later attract college recruiters. Playing in Florida’s high school football environment gave him exposure to high-level competition, which helped prepare him for the next step. His three-star rating did not fully reflect his upside, and his offer list showed the breadth of interest he had earned by the end of his prep career.
His path to major college football ran through Toledo, where he joined a program that has produced several professional quarterbacks. After committing to the Rockets, Bradley focused on building the consistency and accuracy that have defined his style. The transfer to South Alabama later in his college career gave him a chance to take on a full-time starting role and showcase his ability to run an offense.
His time at Toledo also brought academic recognition. Bradley was named Academic All-MAC twice and was a nominee for Academic All-America honors. That balance of classroom work and on-field performance helped establish the discipline that has carried him through the early stages of his professional career.
Carter Bradley Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Bradley began his college career at Toledo in 2018. As a true freshman, he appeared in three games and completed all three of his pass attempts for 52 yards. That small sample of action showed the coaching staff that he had the tools to compete at the collegiate level, and he was set to compete for a larger role going forward.
His progress was briefly halted when he suffered a torn labrum during a spring practice, leading to a redshirt year. Once he returned, Bradley started the regular-season finale of his redshirt freshman year and completed 15 of 23 passes for 121 yards. In the 2020 season, he ranked third in the MAC in passing efficiency with a 164.1 rating and seventh in passing yards per game with 212.3 yards. He earned Academic All-MAC honors twice and was a nominee for Academic All-America recognition. On November 29, 2021, Bradley announced that he would enter the transfer portal, signaling a major change in his college trajectory.
South Alabama Breakthrough (2022–2023)
On December 14, 2021, Bradley announced that he would transfer to the University of South Alabama. The move to the Sun Belt Conference gave him the opportunity to start full-time, and he made the most of it during the 2022 season. That year, he set South Alabama single-season records with 3,326 total passing yards, 276 completions, and 28 touchdowns, while ranking 22nd nationally in passing touchdowns and 25th in passing yards. He was named to the Manning Star of the Week list after his performance in Week 2 against Central Michigan. Bradley earned Second-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2022, a recognition that reinforced his status as one of the conference’s top passers.
On January 2, 2024, Bradley announced that he would declare for the 2024 NFL draft, closing out his South Alabama career. His record-setting senior season and consistent play over two years with the Jaguars positioned him as an experienced college starter ready to compete for an NFL opportunity.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2025–Present)
Bradley signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2024. He was waived on August 27, 2024, but quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad. His persistence paid off on December 10, 2024, when he was promoted to the active roster. He was waived by the Raiders on July 14, 2025, ending his first stop in the NFL.
On July 31, 2025, Bradley signed with the San Francisco 49ers. That stint was short, as he was waived/injured on August 25, 2025. He did not stay on the open market long, however, joining the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad on September 30, 2025. On January 12, 2026, Bradley signed a reserve/future contract with the Jaguars, securing his place with the organization heading into the next league year. Joining the Jaguars also brought him closer to his hometown, where he attended high school.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bradley is a pocket-style quarterback who relies on accuracy, poise under pressure, and a strong understanding of offensive schemes. His college production at South Alabama showed the ability to handle a high volume of throws, and his efficiency numbers at Toledo reflected his grasp of timing-based passing. These traits have made him a steady developmental option for NFL teams looking for depth at the position.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Bradley’s career came during the 2022 season at South Alabama, when he set school records for passing yards, completions, and touchdowns in a single year. His promotion to the Raiders’ active roster in December 2024 marked his first regular-season elevation to a 53-man NFL roster. Signing a reserve/future contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in January 2026 represents another important step, giving him a clear opportunity to compete for a roster spot in 2026.
Carter Bradley Career Highlights
South Alabama Highlights
During the 2022 season, Bradley set South Alabama single-season records with 3,326 passing yards, 276 completions, and 28 passing touchdowns. Those numbers ranked him among the national leaders in both passing yards and touchdowns. He was also named to the Manning Star of the Week list for his Week 2 performance against Central Michigan and earned Second-team All-Sun Belt recognition.
Other Performances
At Toledo, Bradley was a two-time Academic All-MAC selection and a nominee for Academic All-America honors. His 2020 efficiency numbers, including a 164.1 passing efficiency rating, placed him among the top passers in the Mid-American Conference that season. In the NFL, he has appeared on active and practice-squad rosters for the Raiders, 49ers, and Jaguars.
Carter Bradley Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Carter Roy Bradley is the son of Gus Bradley, a longtime NFL coach who has served as the Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator. Growing up in a football family shaped Bradley’s understanding of the game from a young age. His father’s long coaching career gave him a unique perspective on the demands of professional football, and that background has helped guide him through the early stages of his own NFL journey.
Personal Life
Bradley is the son of Gus Bradley. Public details about his personal relationships, including marital status, have not been confirmed in available sources. He continues to focus on his professional football career, working to establish a long-term role with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
2025 Season Performance
Bradley entered the 2025 NFL calendar year as a developmental quarterback looking to land a stable opportunity. After being waived by the Las Vegas Raiders in July 2025, he joined the San Francisco 49ers before being waived/injured later that summer. The transitions between teams reflected the uncertainty that often comes with undrafted players, but Bradley continued to draw interest because of his accuracy and college production.
His most significant break of 2025 came on September 30, 2025, when he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad. The move connected him with a franchise located in the same region where he attended high school. By the end of the 2025 league year, he had secured his future with the team, signing a reserve/future contract on January 12, 2026.
Looking ahead, Bradley’s role with the Jaguars will likely focus on continued development, competing for backup and practice-squad opportunities. His 2025 path, which included stops with three different organizations, showed the resilience required to stay in the NFL. The reserve/future contract gives him a chance to enter 2026 with a clear team and a defined offseason program.