Will Bradley-King Bio
William Bradley-King (born December 22, 1997) is an American professional football linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and listed at 265 pounds, he has worked his way onto NFL rosters through perseverance after going undrafted in name but selected late in the 2021 NFL Draft. He is recognized as a hard-working defender whose career has taken him across several franchises.
Bradley-King played college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Baylor Bears. He entered the professional ranks as a seventh-round selection by the Washington Commanders and has since spent time with the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins before landing with the San Francisco 49ers. His path reflects a steady climb from a Kansas City high school program to one of the most competitive linebacker rooms in the league.
Early Life and Background
William Bradley-King was born on December 22, 1997, in Kansas City, Missouri. He grew up in the Kansas City area and attended Hogan Preparatory Academy, a high school in the city that helped shape his early development as an athlete. Coming out of high school, he was a relatively unheralded prospect, which made his later college recruitment a notable part of his story.
At Hogan Preparatory Academy, Bradley-King began building the frame and physical foundation that would later define his play. Listed at 6 feet 4 inches and 265 pounds, he developed into the kind of long, powerful edge defender that college recruiters look for. His Kansas City roots also connected him to a strong football culture, and the city remains a touchstone in his personal story.
Bradley-King used his high school platform to earn a college opportunity at Arkansas State, beginning a journey through two college programs. That move to a Football Bowl Subdivision-level program was the first major step toward a professional career.
Path to American Football
Bradley-King joined the Arkansas State Red Wolves, where he played from 2016 through 2019. The Sun Belt Conference program gave him consistent playing time and the chance to grow against quality competition. By his junior and senior seasons, his work showed up in postseason recognition, including Second-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2018 and First-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2019.
After the 2019 season, Bradley-King transferred to Baylor, joining the Bears for the 2020 season. Playing in the Big 12 gave him a higher level of visibility and tougher weekly matchups. His lone season in Waco helped position him for the 2021 NFL Draft, where the Washington Commanders selected him in the seventh round as the 240th overall pick.
Will Bradley-King Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
Bradley-King signed his four-year rookie contract with the Washington Football Team on May 13, 2021. He was released on August 31, 2021, but re-signed to the practice squad the following day, beginning a pattern of perseverance that has defined his early professional years. He spent time on the COVID-19 reserve list in December 2021 before signing to the active roster on January 8, 2022.
Over his time in Washington, Bradley-King moved between the active roster and the practice squad several times. He was waived at the end of the 2022 preseason and brought back on a reserve/future contract in January 2023. Through three seasons with the organization, he appeared in limited defensive action, recording 7 total tackles and half a sack according to career statistics tracked through 2023.
Washington Commanders Era (2021–2023)
Bradley-King’s tenure with the Washington organization spanned the franchise’s transition from Washington Football Team to the Washington Commanders. He was a depth linebacker and special teams contributor, with his role often tied to practice squad movement. Multiple in-season transactions reflected the team’s effort to retain him while managing the roster.
He was released from the practice squad on October 14, 2023, ending his time in Washington. Across his Commanders stint, his work ethic and positional versatility kept him in demand, even when the active roster proved difficult to crack.
New England Patriots Era (2023–2024)
On October 18, 2023, the New England Patriots signed Bradley-King to their practice squad, giving him a fresh opportunity in the AFC East. He signed a reserve/future contract with New England on January 8, 2024, locking in a path to the next training camp.
Bradley-King was waived by the Patriots on August 26, 2024, as part of the club’s roster trimming. His time in New England was brief, but it provided another window into a defensive system known for linebacker development.
Miami Dolphins Era (2024)
On August 30, 2024, Bradley-King was signed to the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad, joining one of the league’s deepest linebacker groups. He signed a reserve/future contract with Miami on January 7, 2025, signaling the club’s plan to retain him into the new league year.
Bradley-King was waived by the Dolphins on May 22, 2025, ending his stint in South Florida. Despite the short tenure, the experience added another system and another coaching staff to his professional résumé.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2025–Present)
On August 14, 2025, Bradley-King signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was released by San Francisco on August 29, a familiar sequence in his journeyman path.
On September 24, 2025, Bradley-King signed with the 49ers’ practice squad, returning to the organization. On January 20, 2026, he signed a reserve/futures contract with San Francisco, securing his place in the team’s plans. He is currently listed as an active member of the 49ers roster at No. 69.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bradley-King is a long, athletic linebacker whose frame helps him set the edge and challenge blockers at the point of attack. His experience across multiple defensive schemes has made him a flexible special teams and depth defender, with the kind of practice squad reliability that teams value. Coaches have consistently praised his work ethic and willingness to do the unglamorous jobs that keep a roster functioning.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bradley-King’s career-defining moments have come off the stat sheet, including repeated practice squad promotions, his first-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2019, and a senior-season seventh-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. His January 20, 2026, reserve/futures deal with the 49ers is a recent milestone that signals continued belief from an NFC franchise.
Will Bradley-King Career Wins
As a linebacker who has spent much of his career on practice squads and reserve lists, Bradley-King’s individual win totals in headline categories are limited in publicly available data. The clearest verified figure comes from his college career, where his Second-team All-Sun Belt (2018) and First-team All-Sun Belt (2019) selections marked his top individual honors. Any deeper career win summaries would require verified totals that are not currently supported.
Other Wins & Performances
Bradley-King’s college production at Arkansas State and his single season at Baylor were the foundation for his draft selection. His postseason All-Sun Belt recognition stands as the most documented on-field achievement from his developmental years.
Will Bradley-King Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bradley-King is from Kansas City, Missouri, where he attended Hogan Preparatory Academy. Public sources do not provide verified details about his parents or broader family background.
Personal Life
Publicly available sources do not provide verified details about a spouse, partner, or children for William Bradley-King. He maintains a public Instagram presence under the handle associated with his profile. Off the field, he is known primarily through his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
Bradley-King’s 2025 season began with his signing of a reserve/future contract with the Miami Dolphins on January 7, 2025. He was waived by the Dolphins on May 22, 2025, before signing with the San Francisco 49ers on August 14, 2025. The year featured multiple transactions as he worked to secure a stable roster spot.
His 2025 chapter with San Francisco included a final-roster-cuts waiver and a quick return to the practice squad, then a release on August 29, followed by a return on September 24, 2025. That sequence underlined the journeyman reality of his career, while also showing that a respected NFC franchise continued to value his skill set.
Looking ahead, Bradley-King’s January 20, 2026, reserve/futures contract with the 49ers gives him a clear runway into the next league year. With his current contract running through 2026, his focus will be on carving out a larger defensive or special teams role with the 49ers and converting practice squad reliability into a steady spot on the game-day roster.