Colts' Jim Irsay Speaks Up about Gus Bradley

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay had things to say about his former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.

Oct 20, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay sits in a golf cart during a Ring of Honor ceremony for Dallas Clark during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars/IndyStar USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images / Grace Hollars/IndyStar USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images-Imagn Images

The Indianapolis Colts parted ways with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley after three seasons with the team and multiple underperforming years.

Colts part ways with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 7, 2025

While Bradley's 2024 season was underwhelming, and the defense allowed multitudes of yards, missed tackles, and completions, the veteran coordinator was still a true leader and mentor for the Colts players. Team owner Jim Irsay posted a heartfelt message regarding the former coach.

Gus Bradley is one of the classiest men in pro football, and we will miss him. He will land on his feet -- and I expect soon.👍

— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) January 7, 2025

Bradley's defense finished the campaign 29th in total yards per game (361.2), 26th in passing (229.4), and 24th in rushing (131.8). While these aren't glamorous metrics to any degree, the Colts had positive moments, tying for seventh in the NFL in defensive takeaways with 25.

Bradley's defense this season brought a nice haul of interceptions from Kenny Moore II (three), Nick Cross (three), Julian Blackmon (three), Jaylon Jones (two), and Samuel Womack III (two), so it wasn't all bad from Indy's secondary and stop troops.

What happens next for the Colts? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our free newsletter and get breaking Colts news delivered to your inbox daily!

The Colts will need a reinvigorated drive in their next defensive coordinator. While Bradley was experienced, tenured, and had past success with teams like the Seattle Seahawks, those days are long gone. 2024 showed that Bradley's scheme, at least for the Colts, is outdated and easy for offenses to exploit.

Bradley's veteran leadership will be missed in Indy's locker room, but the Colts need results defensively in 2025, which is why this move to part ways was necessary. Players like defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (30), cornerback Moore II (29), and linebacker Zaire Franklin (28) aren't getting any younger and need to maximize their primes while they can.

As a final note, just want to say that Gus Bradley is one of the kindest humans I've come across in covering three franchises in this league. Always gracious and patient and treated everyone the same.

People show you who they are in the toughest times, and Gus was a real one.

— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) January 7, 2025

We'll see who the Colts decide to hire next to coach the defensive side of the ball. There are plenty of candidates to fit the bill, so Irsay, Chris Ballard, and head coach Shane Steichen must be critical of their next choice to avoid any pitfalls like we've seen over the last three years with Bradley.

---

Want more Colts content? Check out the latest episode of the Horseshoe Huddle Podcast!

Follow Horseshoe Huddle on Facebook and X, and subscribe on YouTube for multiple Colts live-stream podcasts per week.