Gus Bradley, meet the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles are interviewing Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley in Atlanta, two people familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press on Saturday.
Bradley is the eighth candidate interviewed since the Eagles fired Andy Reid on Dec. 31 following a 4-12 finish. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams aren’t commenting on the interview.
Seattle plays the Falcons in a NFC divisional playoff game today. If Bradley is their guy, the Eagles can’t officially hire him until the Seahawks are eliminated.
“Well, it’s flattering. And I know people talk about our entire focus is on Atlanta and it really is,” Bradley said after Thursday’s practice. “It’s so important to us. We worked so hard to get to this point and our whole message to the team is to keep raising the bar and getting better and better every week. They’re talking that and we’re talking that, so it’s easy to stay focused on it. It’s flattering as you’ve all heard before. But our entire focus is on Atlanta and trying to get one step closer.”
Bradley is in his fourth season in Seattle. His defense finished first in the NFL in points allowed (15.3), fourth in yards (306.2) and tied for fourth in takeaways (31).
“He’s got a brilliant football mind,” Seahawks coach Peter Carroll said this week. “He’s got a way of reaching people and touching people and getting the best out of them, coaches and players alike. He’s got everything that you’re looking for.”
Under Bradley, Seattle’s defense has improved each of the last three years and finished in the top 10 in points and yards the last two. The Eagles ranked in the top 10 in both categories in 2011 when they went 8-8. But they were 29th in points and 15th in yards this season. The defense declined after Todd Bowles replaced Juan Castillo as defensive coordinator in October.
Bradley, 46, has emerged as a favorite among fans in Philadelphia based on an old video clip in which he goes off on the Seahawks’ defense during a game.
Bradley began his NFL coaching career with Tampa Bay as a defensive quality control coach in 2006. He was the Buccaneers’ linebackers coach the next two seasons before going to Seattle.
The Eagles have an interview scheduled with Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden on Monday.
CHIEFS HIRE DORSEY
The Kansas City Chiefs have hired longtime Packers personnel man John Dorsey to replace the fired Scott Pioli as their general manager.
Dorsey worked with new Chiefs coach Andy Reid from 1992-98, when Reid was an assistant coach for the Packers, and was instrumental in building Green Bay into a perennial contender. He was the director of college scouting from 2000-12, and spent last year as the director of football operations. He’ll be introduced at a news conference Monday.
GOODELL TO LOOK AT FEDEX
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is looking into the poor playing conditions at FedEx Field last week, when not only Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was hurt – requiring reconstructive surgery on his right knee – but the Seahawks also lost their best pass rusher, Chris Clemons, to a torn ACL in his left knee.
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