SAN DIEGO -- Fired after four subpar seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, no one could blame Gus Bradley for wanting to take a year off.
“So much about coaching is about fulfilling your own personal desires,” said Bradley, who compiled a 14-48 record as head coach. “I love to coach. I love building a personal relationship with the players. I love the competition. I love that we’re trying to take something from here to another level.
“But I think it hit me that maybe it’s my turn to give back. Maybe it’s my turn to give back to my family now. And maybe I should take this year, and instead of trying to get things, to give back.”
Bradley’s oldest son Carter Bradley, a junior in high school, is a Division I quarterback prospect who’s received scholarship offers from Louisville, Mercer and Wisconsin. The time away would have given Bradley more of an opportunity to see Carter play and help him through the recruiting process.
However, Bradley isn’t ready for a life of fishing, golfing and stamp collecting. And after a long discussion with wife Michaela and his four children, Bradley said they came to the conclusion he is not wired to sit at home.
Bradley said he had interest from several organizations this offseason, both as a consultant and as a defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins. But Bradley chose the Chargers because the team’s personnel closely fit his scheme, and he had a good relationship with head coach Anthony Lynn.
Bradley initially met Lynn while interviewing him for the offensive coordinator position during his time in Jacksonville.
“I had a pretty good idea of how he wanted to lead,” Bradley said about Lynn. "I had a pretty good idea of the pieces [defensively]. And another thing was the coaching staff. Ken Whisenhunt, I have a ton of respect for him, and the offensive staff was in place. And the defensive staff that was here -- Giff [defensive line coach Giff Smith] and Milo [defensive backs coach Ron Milus] are very talented coaches.
“We also have a leader at quarterback in Philip Rivers, which gives team a chance to be successful quickly.”
The enticement for the Chargers was improving a defense that allowed 26.4 points per game last season, fourth-worst in the NFL.
Bradley feels like he left the situation better than when he arrived in Jacksonville, but obviously could have done some things better. Otherwise, he would still be there.
“First of all, the overall experience was unbelievable,” Bradley said. “Shad Khan is an unbelievable owner, and I say that heartfelt. He was phenomenal, and really everyone in that building.
“So we knew where we were at. We knew where we had to go, and I think there was a lot of really good progress from the team standpoint, the culture and the talent that’s there -- things like that. But we didn’t win enough. And when you don’t win enough, and you don’t get the results, then there’s consequences.”
Bradley went on to say the adversity the Jaguars went through in 2016 will bring the team closer together and lead to future success.
Bradley is still working his way through the evaluation process of the Chargers’ personnel, with the coaching staff putting together a 25-play reel of each player.
One player that should help Bradley in the transition from Jacksonville to San Diego is Brandon Mebane. The run-stuffing nose tackle played for Bradley while he served as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks so he has an intimate understanding of what Bradley is looking for in practice and on game days.
Mebane served as a defensive co-captain for the Chargers last season.
“He had a strong presence in Seattle,” Bradley said about Mebane. “But the way I hear it is now, he has taken that up another level. And that’s awesome. You played well, you had some presence and now you have those leadership qualities. To me, he took another step up.
“So that’s awesome to be able to be with him in those years I was in Seattle, and to now see that growth.”
Although the Chargers will move from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme, Bradley said he does not expect a massive transition, with players being asked to do some similar things. He also wants his defense to be fast and physical, emphasizing taking the ball away.
The Chargers did a good job of that last season under former defensive coordinator John Pagano, forcing 28 turnovers, tied for No. 4 in the NFL.
“Whatever we do, we’re going to be really good at it and try to get the guys to understand it,” Bradly said. “We want to keep it as simple as possible but really coach the fundamentals hard.”