Former HBCU coaches in Super Bowl LIV

HBCU Coaches

Terry Bradden is currently a defensive quality control coach for the Chiefs. He started his college career at Howard University before transferring to Tuskegee where he earned a degree in social work.

After a few years coaching at high school and Florida Atlantic, Bradden joined Terry Sims’ staff at Bethune-Cookman as quarterbacks graduate assistant. 

“My HBCU experience means everything,” Bradden said. “Without [Terry Sims] and [Lynn W. Thompson], I would never have this opportunity. God has been good to me. Bethune-Cookman is all based on religion. It was a blessing to coach there because it made me the coach that I am today. Coach Sims and his phenomenal program has made it that I can walk through any door, put my head down and go to work. HBCUs are my heart. Anytime I have a chance to wear any HBCU shirt, I’m wearing it because it’s a blessing to come from those prestigious universities.”

It was another HBCU alumnus – South Carolina State’s Ted Crews– that helped get him to Kansas City. Bradden recalled the story of meeting Chiefs head coach Andy Reid for the first time.

“The first thing that Coach Reid said to me was, ‘Oh I played football at Grambling [State].’ But he was joking with me, but I knew that he knew about HBCU’s. And — man, that’s really my first encounter with Coach Reid. And then after two weeks, he called me, they flew me up here, and they gave me the opportunity to interview in front of Coach Reid. And it was awesome, he gave me my first opportunity, and I love him for that.”

Now Bradden will help the Chiefs try to stop Tom Brady from winning another Super Bowl, while Bowles will attempt to bottle up Patrick Mahomes and keep him from repeating. Both men have their work cut out for them, but after having lived the HBCU life, you can bet neither of them will be intimidated. 

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