Garrett Bradbury Bio
Garrett Bradbury is an American professional football center in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football at North Carolina State, he was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft and went on to spend six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before joining the New England Patriots in 2025. In March 2026, he was traded to the Chicago Bears. Over the course of his professional career, Bradbury has built a reputation as a durable, technically sound interior lineman capable of anchoring a starting offensive line.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 305 pounds, Bradbury is regarded for his consistency, intelligence, and pass-protection reliability. He is a former Rimington Trophy winner and consensus All-American, honors he earned during his senior season at NC State. His journey from high school tight end to NFL starting center has made him one of the more respected interior linemen of his draft class.
Early Life and Background
Garrett Bradbury was born on June 20, 1995, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He grew up in the Charlotte area and attended Charlotte Christian School, where he first developed his love for football. At Charlotte Christian, Bradbury was a versatile player who lined up at tight end and on the defensive line, giving him early experience with both blocking and physical play at the line of scrimmage.
His multi-positional background in high school helped shape his understanding of offensive and defensive schemes. Coaches and teammates have noted that his early exposure to multiple roles laid the foundation for the technical skills and football IQ that would later define his career as a center.
Path to the NFL
Bradbury committed to North Carolina State University, where he initially played tight end for the Wolfpack. In 2015, the NC State coaching staff moved him to the offensive line, a transition that ultimately defined his career. The switch to center allowed him to use his strength, leverage, and intelligence to thrive in the trenches.
By his senior season in 2018, Bradbury had developed into one of the top interior linemen in college football. He was named a consensus All-American, earned First-team All-ACC honors, and won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s best center. Notably, he did not allow a single quarterback sack in over 900 offensive snaps that season, cementing his status as a first-round NFL prospect.
Garrett Bradbury Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Bradbury was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. As a rookie, he stepped into a starting role immediately, starting all 16 regular season games and both of Minnesota’s playoff games that year. His early performance suggested the Vikings had found their long-term answer at center.
In 2020, Bradbury continued his steady development by starting all 16 regular season games. Through his first two professional seasons, he demonstrated durability, consistency, and an ability to handle complex blocking assignments at the NFL level.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2019–2024)
Bradbury’s time in Minnesota spanned six seasons and saw him evolve into a veteran leader on the offensive line. He started all 13 games he appeared in during the 2021 season and was a central figure in one of the most memorable trick plays of that year. On January 2, 2022, a pass deflected off tight end Tyler Conklin into Bradbury’s hands, and the center turned the broken play into a 21-yard reception in a re-enactment of Franco Harris’ famous Immaculate Reception.
Although the Vikings declined his fifth-year option in May 2022, Bradbury rebounded in 2023 by signing a three-year, $15.7 million contract extension on March 14, 2023. He started 12 games in 2022 and 14 games in 2023, before playing every offensive snap during the 2024 season, when he started all 17 games. His reliability helped stabilize the interior of Minnesota’s offensive line for several years. On March 17, 2025, the Vikings released him after his sixth season with the team.
New England Patriots Era (2025)
One day after his release from Minnesota, Bradbury signed a two-year deal worth up to $12 million with the New England Patriots on March 18, 2025. He quickly became a fixture on the Patriots’ offensive line, starting all 21 games New England played during the 2025 season, including Super Bowl LX, a 29–13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
His veteran presence and ability to play every snap made him a valuable addition to a young Patriots roster. Bradbury’s performance in 2025 reinforced his reputation as one of the most dependable centers in the league.
Chicago Bears Era (2026–Present)
On March 11, 2026, the New England Patriots traded Bradbury to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick. The move gave him a fresh opportunity within a new offensive system and reunited him with a franchise building around a young quarterback. As of 2026, Bradbury continues to serve as a starting center in the NFL.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bradbury is known for his technical precision, leverage, and football intelligence. He excels in pass protection, where his balance and quick recognition of stunts allow him to anchor against powerful defensive tackles. His communication skills at the line of scrimmage make him a trusted pre-snap quarterback for the offense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most memorable moments of Bradbury’s career is his 21-yard reception on the Immaculate Reception re-enactment play in January 2022, an unusual highlight for an offensive lineman. He has also started more than 100 career regular season games, a milestone reflecting his consistency and durability as a professional center.
Garrett Bradbury Career Highlights
Across his professional career, Garrett Bradbury has started 105 regular season games through the 2025 season, an impressive mark of consistency for an interior lineman. His career has been defined by steady improvement, a willingness to embrace new systems, and signature contributions in big moments.
Minnesota Vikings Highlights
During his six seasons with the Vikings, Bradbury started 84 regular season games and multiple postseason contests. He signed a notable three-year contract extension in 2023 and played every offensive snap during the 2024 season. His trick-play reception in 2022 remains one of the franchise’s most unique offensive highlights in recent memory.
New England Patriots Highlights
In his only season with New England in 2025, Bradbury started all 21 games, including the Patriots’ run to Super Bowl LX. His leadership helped anchor an offensive line that supported a young quarterback and a developing offensive identity.
Garrett Bradbury Family
Family Background
Garrett Bradbury was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he attended Charlotte Christian School. Public details about his immediate family remain limited, and additional information has not been widely reported in verified sources.
Personal Life
Bradbury is known to be a focused and disciplined professional whose career has been his primary public focus. Details about his marital status, spouse, or children have not been publicly confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
In his first and only season with the New England Patriots in 2025, Garrett Bradbury started all 21 games, including the postseason. He provided veteran stability along the offensive line and played a key role in protecting a young quarterback throughout the year.
His durability and on-field communication helped the Patriots develop a more consistent offensive identity. The season culminated in a Super Bowl LX appearance, where New England fell to the Seattle Seahawks 29–13. Bradbury’s performance reinforced his value as a long-term starting center at the professional level.
Following the season, he was traded to the Chicago Bears in March 2026, opening a new chapter in his career. His 2025 campaign served as a strong foundation heading into his next opportunity in Chicago.
