Terry Bradden turned out to essentially take a one-year hiatus from the Kansas City Chiefs. After spending the 2025 season with the Nebraska football team, he's back with the franchise that he won a Super Bowl with.
According to a report from CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, the Chiefs are hiring Terry Bradden for a second tenure with the franchise. The three-time Super Bowl champion returns as the assistant defensive line coach after his first tenure with Kansas City lasted eight seasons, the last four of which were as an assistant under defensive line coach Joe Cullen.
Bradden came over from the Chiefs to the Nebraska football team after Tony White and Terrance Knighton departed for the Florida State Seminoles. Bradden was fired by head coach Matt Rhule just a few days after he also booted former defensive coordinator John Butler.
Terry Bradden's return to Kansas City Chiefs as assistant DL coach after Nebraska tenure
Despite the fact that Bradden arrived in Lincoln with all kinds of positive reviews, including from some former Huskers who played with the Chiefs when he was on staff, the NU defensive line was a massive weakness of the team in 2025.
It's not clear if Bradden bore the brunt of the blame or whether his dismissal was more about getting a defensive staff that fits Rob Aurich's needs. The new DC is moving from a 3-3-5 alignment to a 4-2-5 and has brought in his own defensive line coaches.
It will certainly be interesting to see if Terry Bradden's impact will be immediately felt now that he's back with his old team and no longer with Nebraska.