Bradlee Anae

Bradlee Anae's Biography

Bradlee Joseph Ioane Anae, born on October 17, 1998, is a professional American football player who has earned a reputation as a steadfast athlete on the field. Currently a free agent, Anae has amassed a notable career in the sport, projecting a trajectory of immense potential.

Anae was born and bred in Laie, Hawaii, where his athletic talents took shape. He was a distinguished multi-sport athlete at Kahuku High & Intermediate School, contributing to basketball, football, and track teams. In his senior year, Anae was instrumental in the school’s 13-0 record, leading them to win the Division 1 state title. His exceptional performance earned him All-state and second-team All-USA Hawaii honors.

Recognized as a three-star recruit, Anae had college offers from renowned institutions, including Vanderbilt and BYU. However, he decided to follow in his older sister’s footsteps, Adora, who was a volleyball scholar-athlete, and committed to the University of Utah where his career truly took off.

During his freshman year at Utah, Anae played six games as a backup defensive end and accumulated impressive stats, including four tackles and two sacks. The following year saw him starting nine games, leading to 39 total tackles, three forced fumbles, seven sacks, and ten tackles for loss. His junior year marked a further evolution of his game, with a total of 51 tackles, eight sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.

Anae strongly considered entering the 2019 NFL draft but chose to return for his senior season. This proved a wise choice as his senior year was immensely successful. He started all 14 games and was named to the first-team All-Pac-12 and Bednarik Award watch list. He also broke the Utah career sack record with a historic 29.5 sacks, earning recognition as a consensus All-American and a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award.

The Dallas Cowboys selected Anae in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. His rookie season was marred by deep defensive ends and struggles against the run, which led to limited playing opportunities. Anae played mainly on special teams and had one defensive tackle.

In 2021, Anae faced immense challenges, from contracting COVID-19 to committing a critical penalty that negatively impacted a game. However, he rebounded and signed a reserve/future contract with the New York Jets in 2022. Despite being waived and then reassigned to the practice squad, he showed resilience, making a comeback to the active roster in 2023. However, an injury relegated him to the injured reserve list later that year.

In 2024, Anae started a new chapter of his career, signing a contract with the Atlanta Falcons. However, the arrangement was short-lived as he was waived from the team within a few months.

Notably, Anae’s passion for football is deeply rooted in his family. His father, Brad Anae, had an established college football career at BYU and enjoyed three seasons in the United States Football League. In addition, his uncles Matt and Robert Anae both played at BYU, and Robert is presently the offensive coordinator at NC State University.

In conclusion, Bradlee Joseph Ioane Anae has shown incredible resilience, skill, and commitment to football throughout his professional journey. His unwavering passion for the sport continues to shape his career as he navigates the world of professional football. With such a promising record, the coming years undoubtedly hold limitless potential for this enduring athlete.