Bradlee Anae Bio
Bradlee Joseph Ioane Anae, born on October 17, 1998, in Laie, Hawaii, is an American professional football linebacker and defensive lineman currently playing for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 260 pounds, he is recognized for his pass-rushing ability and his prolific career at the University of Utah, where he set the school’s all-time sack record. Since entering the league in 2020, Anae has played for multiple professional teams across the National Football League (NFL), the United Football League (UFL), and the CFL, demonstrating persistence and resilience in navigating his professional career.
Early Life and Background
Bradlee Anae grew up in Laie, a small coastal community on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. He is of Samoan descent and was raised in a household with a strong athletic tradition. His father, Brad Anae, played college football at Brigham Young University (BYU) and was an honorable mention All-American in 1980 before a brief professional career in the United States Football League. Two of his uncles, Matt and Robert Anae, also played football at BYU, with Robert currently serving as the offensive coordinator at NC State University.
Anae attended Kahuku High & Intermediate School, where he was a multi-sport athlete competing in football, basketball, and track. As a senior, he helped lead the football team to a perfect 13-0 record and a Division 1 state championship, earning All-State and second-team All-USA Hawaii honors for his performance. Rated as a three-star college recruit, he received scholarship offers from several programs, including Vanderbilt and BYU, but ultimately chose to follow in the footsteps of his family by committing to the University of Utah, where his older sister Adora had been a volleyball scholar-athlete.
Path to American Football
Anae’s path to professional football began to take shape during his senior year of high school, when his dominant play on the defensive line drew attention from college recruiters across the country. His exposure to the sport came naturally, given his father’s and uncles’ history in the game, and his size and athleticism made him a natural fit for a defensive end position. The decision to attend the University of Utah allowed him to develop his game in a defensive system known for producing NFL-caliber edge rushers.
As a true freshman at Utah, Anae appeared in six games as a defensive end backup and recorded four tackles and two sacks. He quickly earned a larger role, starting nine games at right defensive end during his sophomore year and posting seven sacks while leading the team in tackles for loss. By his junior season, he had become one of the top pass rushers in the Pac-12 Conference, leading the conference with 8.0 sacks and earning first-team All-Pac-12 recognition.
Bradlee Anae Career
College Career (2017-2019)
During his three full seasons as a starter, Anae transformed from a promising backup into one of the most productive defensive players in Utah history. Following his junior campaign, he considered entering the 2019 NFL Draft but chose to return for his senior year to further refine his game and pursue additional accolades. That decision paid off handsomely, as he entered his final season as a preseason first-team All-Pac-12 selection and a Bednarik Award watch list candidate.
In his senior season, Anae started all 14 games at left defensive end, recording 41 tackles, 13.0 sacks, 14.0 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. He tied the Utah career sack record with 29.5 sacks during a game against Colorado on November 30, 2019, and then broke the record with a half-sack in the 2019 Alamo Bowl against the University of Texas. He finished his college career as a consensus All-American, the Morris Trophy winner as the Pac-12’s best defensive lineman, a Ted Hendricks Award finalist, and the Senior Bowl defensive Most Valuable Player. His final college totals included 38 starts across 47 games, 30 career sacks (a school record), and 41.5 tackles for loss.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2020-2021)
Anae entered the NFL after being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round with the 179th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Concerns about his athletic testing numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine caused him to slide down draft boards, but the Cowboys valued his production and technique. As a rookie, he appeared in the first six games but was largely confined to special teams duty, recording only one defensive tackle as the team had established veterans ahead of him on the depth chart.
His 2021 season in Dallas proved even more difficult. After being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in September and activated in October, he was waived on November 2, 2021, following a defensive offsides penalty against the Minnesota Vikings that extended a key drive. He was re-signed to the practice squad two days later and appeared in four more games as a backup, finishing his Cowboys tenure with limited defensive statistics.
New York Jets Eras (2022-2024)
On January 19, 2022, Anae signed a reserve/future contract with the New York Jets, beginning a long association with the franchise. He was waived at the end of training camp that summer and re-signed to the practice squad, then promoted to the active roster in January 2023 for the season finale against the Miami Dolphins. In 2023, he returned to compete for a roster position but was placed on injured reserve in May and became an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
Anae returned to the Jets on December 18, 2024, when he was signed to the practice squad. However, the Jets chose not to offer him a reserve/future contract following the 2024 season, leaving him as a free agent once again and prompting him to explore opportunities outside the NFL.
BC Lions Era (2025-Present)
On September 9, 2025, Anae signed as a defensive lineman with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, marking his first move into the CFL. His transition to the league came after brief stints earlier that year with the San Francisco 49ers, who placed him on injured reserve shortly after he signed on August 4, 2025. He was released shortly thereafter, opening the door for his move north of the border.
Anae was placed on the Lions’ one-game injured list on September 18, 2025, but rejoined the active roster one week later on September 25. His arrival in British Columbia gives the Lions an experienced edge rusher with significant NFL training camp and practice squad pedigree, and he is expected to contribute to the team’s defensive front for the remainder of the 2025 CFL season.
Other Professional Stints
In addition to his NFL opportunities, Anae spent time in the UFL, signing with the Birmingham Stallions on November 18, 2024, during his first stint with the spring league. He returned to the Stallions on January 16, 2025, after being re-signed in the offseason. He also signed a future contract with the Atlanta Falcons on May 13, 2024, though he was waived on August 25 of that year before appearing in a regular-season game.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining milestones of Anae’s career came in the 2019 Alamo Bowl, where a half-sack against the University of Texas pushed him past the previous Utah career sack record. He was also named the defensive Most Valuable Player of the 2020 Senior Bowl after recording three sacks, an impressive showing that reinforced his draft stock. His 2019 campaign as a consensus All-American and Morris Trophy recipient cemented his legacy as one of the most decorated defensive players in Utah football history.
Bradlee Anae Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Football runs deep in the Anae family. His father, Brad Anae, was a college football player at Brigham Young University who earned All-American honors and later played professionally in the United States Football League. His uncles, Matt and Robert Anae, also played football at BYU, with Robert currently serving as the offensive coordinator at NC State University. Bradlee’s older sister, Adora, was a volleyball scholar-athlete at the University of Utah, and the family is of Samoan descent.
Personal Life
Bradlee Anae was raised in Laie, Hawaii, where he developed his love for sports. He is of Samoan heritage, a background that has shaped much of his identity and connection to the football community. Beyond his immediate family connections to the sport, he maintains an active presence on social media, where he shares insights into his training and professional journey.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a year of transitions and new beginnings for Bradlee Anae. After brief stops with the Birmingham Stallions in January and the San Francisco 49ers in August, he signed with the BC Lions on September 9, making his Canadian Football League debut. A short stint on the one-game injured list interrupted his early tenure, but he returned to the active roster on September 25, 2025, and is expected to be a part of the Lions’ defensive rotation for the remainder of the season.
As the CFL regular season progresses, Anae brings a wealth of experience from high-level college football and multiple NFL training camps. His pass-rushing skills and familiarity with professional defensive schemes make him a valuable addition to the Lions’ defensive line, and the organization is counting on him to provide pressure on opposing quarterbacks. With the season still unfolding, Anae’s impact in his first extended professional opportunity outside the NFL will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.