Chiefs bring back another familiar assistant coach. This 1 joins defensive staff
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs rehired Terry Bradden as assistant defensive line coach under Joe Cullen.
- Bradden returns after 2017–24 Chiefs tenure and a short 2025 stint at Nebraska.
- Coaches and linemen cite his role in prior Super Bowl runs and player development.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ coaching shuffle continued Thursday, as a source confirmed the team has brought back Terry Bradden as assistant defensive line coach under Joe Cullen.
Bradden spent eight seasons with the Chiefs from 2017-24, working his way up from defensive assistant in 2017 to a quality-control role from 2018-20. A promotion to assistant defensive line coach followed, and he held that job from 2021-24.
Bradden left Kansas City to become Nebraska’s defensive line coach for the 2025 season. But in early December, the Cornhuskers dismissed defensive coordinator John Butler and several assistants, including Bradden.
Each of Nebraska’s three starting defensive linemen produced career-highs in tackles, helping the Cornhuskers rank 30th nationally in total defense (329 yards per game). The problem was Nebraska struggled to contain the run, allowing 175.4 rushing yards per game and ranking 100th nationally.
Still, Bradden’s return to the Chiefs figures to be welcomed by such linemen as Chris Jones and George Karlaftis, who have praised Bradden’s impact in the past. His Chiefs tenure included three Super Bowl championships (2019, 2022 and 2023).
Bradden played quarterback for two seasons at Howard University (2009-10) before transferring to Tuskegee University. He was a special teams quality control coach at Florida Atlantic (2014); the head coach of his alma mater, Inlet Grove High School (2015); and a graduate-assistant working with quarterbacks at Bethune–Cookman before his initial hire in Kansas City.
This story was originally published February 12, 2026 at 1:22 PM.
