James Bradberry

James Bradberry's Biography

James Bradberry IV, an accomplished American professional football cornerback, was born on August 4, 1993. With a decorated sports career carved on the back of sheer determination and raw talent, Bradberry has established himself as a force to reckon with within the professional American football landscape. His sporting journey has seen him cross paths with top-tier teams like the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, and most recently, the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League (NFL).

The trajectory of Bradberry’s career traces back to his college days, where he emerged as a promising player for the Samford Bulldogs. His abilities on the field didn’t go unnoticed, and in 2016, he was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of NFL’s draft class. This selection positioned him as the 11th cornerback to be selected that year and marked the start of his professional football journey.

The Carolina Panthers, showing faith in Bradberry’s abilities, committed to a four-year contract valued at USD 3.69 million in 2016. Early into his tenure with the Panthers, Bradberry found himself contesting for the position of starting cornerback, a spot left vacant after the team’s release of Josh Norman. Bradberry prevailed within this competitive setting, and the Panthers’ head coach, Ron Rivera, named him as the team’s starting cornerback alongside veteran, Bené Benwikere.

Bradberry’s synergy with the Panthers strengthened over his rookie season, despite several challenges. His resilience and adaptability were prominently seen when the Panthers’ humiliating performance at the Falcons led to the dismissal of Benwikere, solidifying Bradberry’s standing as the team’s first-choice cornerback.

The professional debut and early successes paved the way for Bradberry to consistently deliver performance for the Panthers across various seasons. He racked up impressive numbers, including the top-ranked performance for a rookie cornerback. His dedication and fearlessness on the field eventually resulted in a fractured wrist injury during training in 2017. Despite being sidelined for a month, Bradberry’s position remained unchanged, as the Panthers saw his value too high to replace.

During 2017, his breakthrough year saw him making his mark with six combined tackles, breaking up a pass, and seen making his first career tackle on the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback, Carson Wentz. He continued this performance throughout the season, with a total of 85 combined tackles, fifteen pass deflections, and targeting and neutralizing strategic opponents.

Bradberry’s tenure with the Panthers came to an end in 2019, after impressive performances across seasons, leading to him being picked up by the New York Giants on a three-year, $45 million contract in early 2020.

Continuing his legacy of strong performances, Bradberry recorded his first interception as a Giant off a pass thrown by Mitchell Trubisky. He finished the 2020 season with 54 total tackles, three interceptions, 18 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. His performance earned him a place amongst the Pro Bowl for the 2020 season and ranked 74th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2021.

Bradberry’s tenure at the Giants came to an abrupt end on May 9, 2022, when he was released due to unsuccessful trade negotiations. This setback, however, led to the Philadelphia Eagles acquiring him on a one-year, $7.5 million contract.

As a member of the Eagles, Bradberry’s experience and skill made him a valuable addition to the team, positioned as a defensive stronghold in the gridiron. Despite a controversial holding call during Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs, Bradberry admitted his fault and continued to show his humility and sportsmanship.

His outstanding performance in the 2022 season led the Eagles to secure his services for another three years. However, an unfortunate leg injury during practice before the 2024 season landed Bradberry on injured reserve in August 2024. Despite this setback, his spirit and passion for the game remained undimmed, reflecting his unwavering commitment to his sport.