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Garrett Bradbury

Garrett Bradbury is an for the of the (NFL), who was originally selected by the in the first round (18th overall) of the . Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 300 pounds, Bradbury has started all 99 games he has played in as of the 2025 season, including a two-year contract signed with the Patriots in March 2025 worth up to $12 million. His career highlights include earning the as the nation's top during his senior year at and being named the ' 2019 Rookie of the Year. Born on June 20, 1995, in , Bradbury attended , where he helped lead the team to state championships in 2012 and 2013 while playing as a and , and also excelled as a . At NC State from 2014 to 2018, he transitioned to center, starting the final 39 of 48 games and blocking for multiple 1,000-yard rushers and quarterbacks; his senior season accolades included First-Team All-ACC honors and the , recognizing him as the best center in . In his professional career, Bradbury quickly established himself as a starter for the , appearing in and starting 88 games from 2019 to and contributing to 14 wins in the season, the most since 1998. He notably recorded two receptions for 17 yards on deflections during his tenure and was part of an offensive line that supported Dalvin Cook's 1,557-yard rushing season in 2020. Released by on March 17, 2025, Bradbury signed with the Patriots two days later, where he has started all 11 games in the 2025 season as of November 17, logging 705 offensive snaps without allowing a .

Early years

Childhood and family

Garrett Bradbury was born on June 20, 1995, in , weighing 12.5 pounds. He grew up in the Charlotte area, where his family provided strong support for his early development and interests. His father, Tim Bradbury, who had played at and Montana State, encouraged his son's athletic pursuits despite his own allegiance to the Red Sox. Tim often brought home Yankees merchandise from business trips to nurture Garrett's passion for the team, even as a rival fan. From a young age, Bradbury's primary exposure to sports came through , which he initially loved more than any other activity. A devoted Yankees fan, he aspired to become a like , honing his skills behind the plate and demonstrating leadership on the field. He played summer during , but by seventh grade, the demands of early-morning conditioning led him and his friends to prioritize the sport over . This transition marked the beginning of his focused involvement in , with his family's encouragement playing a key role in his commitment.

High school career

Garrett Bradbury attended in , where he emerged as a multi-sport excelling in both and . Although Bradbury began playing in , he initially prioritized and did not fully commit to the until late in high school, when his physical growth and family encouragement highlighted his potential in the sport. In , he competed as a and under coach Jason Estep, helping lead the team to back-to-back Independent Schools Athletic Association 3A state championships in 2012 and 2013, including an undefeated 12-0 season in his senior year. Over his career, Bradbury amassed 53 receptions for 918 yards and 12 touchdowns offensively, and in his senior season recorded 67 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks defensively, with his senior season featuring 17 catches for 360 yards and 6 scores. In , Bradbury served as a standout known for his powerful hitting and strong throwing arm, helping lead Christian to three state championships, including titles in and 2013. During his time at Charlotte Christian, Bradbury began a with fellow student Carson Kowar, whom he later married; the two were high school sweethearts.

College career

Transition and early years at NC State

Garrett Bradbury, a three-star recruit from in , committed to in April 2013 and enrolled in 2014 as a . As a redshirt freshman, he spent his initial season developing without seeing game action, focusing on physical conditioning after undergoing shoulder surgery that prompted him to gain weight and adapt to college-level demands. This period allowed Bradbury to build foundational strength, transitioning from his high school versatility across positions to preparing for a more specialized role in the Wolfpack program. Prior to the 2015 season, head coach moved Bradbury to the offensive line, initially positioning him at to capitalize on his and athleticism, a shift that occurred after a brief stint on the defensive line during spring practices. In his first year of eligibility, Bradbury appeared in all 13 games, primarily handling special teams duties at left after suffering an in the season opener against . This transition marked a pivotal adjustment, as Bradbury adapted to the technical demands of blocking schemes, emphasizing footwork and leverage that would define his college trajectory. Academically, he was named to the All-Academic Team in 2015, highlighting his commitment to balancing athletic and scholarly pursuits. Entering his redshirt sophomore year in 2016, Bradbury solidified his role on the offensive line, earning his first career start in the season opener and starting all 13 games while participating in 87% of the team's offensive snaps, primarily at guard. His consistent presence helped anchor the unit during a 7-6 season, where he focused on run blocking and pass protection fundamentals amid ongoing position refinement, and he received the team's Earle Edwards Leadership Award for the highest GPA among football players. By 2017, as a redshirt junior, Bradbury shifted to center, starting all 13 games and continuing to earn ACC All-Academic honors for the third consecutive year, underscoring his development as a reliable leader on and off the field. These early seasons at NC State laid the groundwork for his evolution into a cornerstone of the offensive line, blending physical growth with disciplined preparation.

Senior season and recognition

In his senior season of 2018, Bradbury started all 13 games at center for NC State, anchoring the offensive line as a team co-captain and providing stability to a unit that supported a 9-4 record. His leadership was instrumental in fostering cohesion among the linemen, contributing to an offense that amassed over 5,000 total yards, including strong pass protection where he did not allow a single quarterback sack across more than 900 snaps. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Bradbury earned an overall grade of 85.6, with an 86.8 in run-blocking, highlighting his effectiveness in creating lanes for the rushing attack that averaged 161.6 yards per game. Bradbury's standout performance earned him significant recognition, culminating in winning the Rimington Trophy on December 6, , awarded to the nation's top center by the award's selection committee. He was also named a All-American and received first-team All-ACC honors from both the coaches and the , underscoring his dominance at the position within the Atlantic Coast . These accolades affirmed his transformation into one of football's premier interior linemen during his final year. At the 2019 , Bradbury further elevated his draft stock with impressive athletic testing for an offensive lineman of his size (6-foot-3, 306 pounds). He ran the in 4.92 seconds, the third-fastest time among all offensive linemen, and completed 34 repetitions on the 225-pound , ranking second in his position group. These results, combined with his on-field tape, positioned him as a highly regarded prospect heading into the .

Professional career

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings selected Garrett Bradbury in the first round (18th overall) of the , making him the highest-drafted center in franchise history. He signed a four-year contract worth $12.88 million, including a $7.39 million . As a in 2019, Bradbury started all 16 games at , becoming the first rookie to achieve that feat in franchise history. His performance earned him the team's Rookie of the Year award. Bradbury maintained a consistent starting role throughout his tenure with the from 2019 to 2024, appearing in 88 games and starting all 88 at . He played a key role in the team's ground game, notably during the 2020 season when the amassed 2,283 rushing yards—the seventh-highest total in franchise history—and 6,548 scrimmage yards, ranking second in team annals. Over the seasons, Bradbury showed development in pass protection; for instance, in 2023, he went stretches without allowing a pressure on over 100 pass-blocking snaps, contributing to the ' offensive line stability despite occasional injuries limiting his games in 2021 (13 starts), 2022 (12 starts), and 2023 (14 starts). In 2024, he started all 17 games, playing every offensive snap. Following the 2024 season, the Vikings released Bradbury in the 2025 offseason as part of roster restructuring, clearing cap space after he had signed a three-year extension worth $15.7 million in 2023.

New England Patriots

In the 2025 offseason, following his release from the Minnesota Vikings, Garrett Bradbury signed a two-year contract with the New England Patriots worth up to $12 million, including $3.8 million guaranteed. The deal, finalized on March 18, 2025, positioned Bradbury as the starting center, bringing veteran experience from six NFL seasons to bolster the Patriots' offensive line under new head coach Mike Vrabel. During the 2025 season, as of November 17, 2025 (through Week 11), Bradbury has started all 11 games at for the Patriots, who hold a 9-2 record and first place in the . He has participated in 705 offensive s, ranking first among centers in snap volume, while committing zero penalties and allowing zero sacks. His has provided to the interior line, contributing to improved for quarterback and supporting a ground game that averages 3.9 yards per carry through 11 weeks. Bradbury's technical proficiency in pass blocking, evidenced by a 58.3 PFF pass-blocking grade (25th among centers), has been particularly notable in high-pressure situations. Bradbury's integration into the Patriots' scheme has emphasized his prior experience as a reliable and run-blocker, adding to a young unit. As of , 2025, he has appeared in 99 career games, all as starts, maintaining his streak of durability.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Garrett Bradbury married his high school sweetheart, Carson Kowar, a talented who won multiple art contests and awards during her time at Charlotte Christian High School, on March 19, 2021, in . The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Blake Elisabeth Bradbury, on October 24, 2023, shortly before the end of the 2023 NFL season. This event ushered in Bradbury's experience as a father, which he described as transformative during the subsequent offseason, balancing family time with training preparations. Bradbury's family has provided steadfast support throughout his professional transitions, including relocating to Minnesota with Carson after his 2019 draft selection by the Vikings. More recently, following his March 2025 signing with the New England Patriots, Bradbury and Carson have adapted to life in the Northeast, taking day trips to the Cape and Newport to settle into their new home. The family shares meaningful experiences together, such as attending Bradbury's 2019 NFL Draft party and his early professional games, where over 30 relatives and friends were present to celebrate his debut.

Interests and off-field pursuits

Bradbury maintains a lifelong passion for , rooted in his youth as a standout for Charlotte Christian High School's three-time state championship team, where he hit a memorable 450-foot and demonstrated strong leadership by calling pitches and managing the game's tempo. A dedicated Yankees fan since childhood—despite his father's allegiance to the Red Sox—he adorned his bedroom with memorabilia and aspired to emulate catchers like . This enduring fandom persists into adulthood, evidenced by his close friendship with pitcher , a former high school teammate, and occasional summer play at or first before football seasons. He actively supports his wife Carson's career as a professional artist, who holds a degree in art and design from North Carolina State University and specializes in commissioned charcoal drawings for NFL players and families, having previously designed fabric patterns at Under Armour. Bradbury offers detailed feedback on her work to ensure anatomical and realistic accuracy, publicly praises her talent on social media, and encouraged her transition to full-time artistry after the NFL draft. Their shared creative pursuits include an appreciation for design, as Carson's Under Armour role involved crafting Jordan Spieth's polo shirts, sparking Bradbury's fandom for the golfer. Beyond these interests, Bradbury applies skills honed from his days—such as communication and team coordination—to community involvement, including organizing turkey giveaways with and Christmas deliveries to families. Post-2024, his has focused on pediatric cancer support through the Baller Dream Foundation, where he auctions outings at his Arizona country club and participates in charity poker events, a commitment deepened by fatherhood. He has also visited children's hospitals, such as a 2025 trip with teammates to deliver autographed gifts to young patients. In his free time, Bradbury enjoys —having lowered his handicap to 13 during NFL offseasons—and ping-pong, while exploring family-oriented day trips to and since relocating to .

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