Packers hope to interview Gus Bradley for defensive coordinator job, per report

The Green Bay Packers pursuit of a new defensive coordinator has expanded to another external candidate. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team requested permission to interview the Los Angeles Chargers’ Gus Bradley.

Bradley made his name as the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks during the early years of the Pete Carroll era. He left the offseason before the Seahawks won their first Super Bowl to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, after four unsuccessful years in Jacksonville (the team won just 14 of the 62 games he coached), the Jaguars fired him. Bradley landed with the Chargers, producing a decent defense (ranked 12th by DVOA) and helped former Packers cornerback Casey Hayward earn his second consecutive second-team All-Pro nod.

The Packers technically didn’t need to request permission to interview Bradley, whose contract with the Chargers expired Tuesday. Other teams have interest in Bradley as well, including the Seahawks. Seattle could bring Bradley back as a position coach or to take over as defensive coordinator if Kris Richard leaves to become a head coach.

In addition to Bradley, the Packers plan to talk with former Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine and Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio about taking over the defense in Green Bay. The team has also interviewed multiple in-house candidates for the position, including Darren Perry and Joe Whitt Jr.