Bradley Bozeman Bio
Bradley Bozeman (born November 24, 1994) is an American professional football center for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing around 320 pounds, he plays the demanding interior line position with a reputation for durability and team-first leadership. Bozeman first gained national recognition as a four-year starter at the University of Alabama, where he won two College Football Playoff national championships.
After being selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2018 NFL Draft, Bozeman developed into a reliable starter before signing with the Carolina Panthers in 2022. He joined the Los Angeles Chargers in March 2024, where he serves as the starting center and a leader in the offensive line room.
Early Life and Background
Bradley Bozeman was born on November 24, 1994, in Roanoke, Alabama. He grew up in the small east-Alabama community and attended Handley High School in Roanoke, where he developed into one of the state’s most highly regarded offensive line prospects. Coming out of high school, he was rated a four-star recruit by major scouting services and drew scholarship offers from Auburn, Clemson, and Tennessee before choosing to play for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
His hometown roots kept him grounded through the recruiting process, and his commitment to Alabama in 2013 set the stage for one of the most decorated careers in the program’s recent history. The combination of size, athleticism, and discipline he refined at Handley made him a natural fit for the Crimson Tide’s pro-style offense.
Path to American Football
Bozeman arrived at Alabama in 2013 as part of a stacked offensive line recruiting class. He redshirted his true freshman year and then worked his way onto the field as a reserve guard and center. By his redshirt sophomore season, he had earned meaningful snaps and was viewed as a future anchor of the Crimson Tide front.
When longtime Alabama center Ryan Kelly declared for the 2016 NFL Draft, Bozeman stepped into the starting role and never gave it back. He started every game in 2016 and 2017, was elected a team captain by his teammates for his senior season, and finished his college career with two College Football Playoff national championships, including the 2018 title game. He was named Second Team All-SEC for his redshirt senior season.
Bradley Bozeman Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
The Baltimore Ravens selected Bradley Bozeman in the sixth round (215th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he appeared in 14 games and made his first NFL start at left guard against the New Orleans Saints. The move to guard allowed the Ravens to feature their best five linemen while Bozeman continued his on-the-job development.
In 2019, Bozeman was named the Ravens’ starting left guard and started all 16 regular-season games. He repeated that role in 2020, anchoring a Baltimore offensive line that supported one of the league’s top rushing attacks. Across his first three seasons, he missed only a handful of snaps and built a reputation for toughness and consistency.
Carolina Panthers Era (2021–2023)
Bozeman moved to center in 2021 and started all 17 games for the Ravens at his new position. That versatility, combined with his steady pass protection, made him an attractive free-agent target the following offseason. On March 18, 2022, he signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers to bring veteran leadership to a young offensive line.
In 2022, Bozeman started every game at center for Carolina and quickly became a tone-setter in the locker room. On March 13, 2023, the Panthers rewarded his production with a three-year, $18 million contract extension, signaling their long-term commitment to him as the centerpiece of their offensive front.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2024–Present)
Carolina released Bozeman on March 13, 2024, and he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers five days later. He was immediately installed as the starting center and started all 17 games, helping stabilize a line that protected rookie quarterback Justin Herbert through a transitional year. On March 10, 2025, Bozeman signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract extension that keeps him in Los Angeles through the 2026 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bozeman is widely regarded as a power-oriented center who excels in the run game and thrives on physical interior matchups. His intelligence and communication skills at the line of scrimmage have made him a trusted pre-snap identifier, and his durability over five NFL seasons has been one of the defining traits of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones for Bozeman include two College Football Playoff national championships at Alabama, a Second Team All-SEC selection in 2017, and starting every game for three consecutive NFL seasons with two different teams. His full-time transition to center in 2021 marked the turning point that allowed him to become a long-term starter in the league.
Bradley Bozeman Career Wins
Bradley Bozeman’s professional resume features sustained starting roles rather than headline stat lines. Across his Baltimore, Carolina, and Los Angeles stops, he has been a durable, every-down interior lineman whose value is measured in consistency, leadership, and postseason experience.
NFL Highlights
Bozeman has started more than 100 regular-season games since entering the league in 2018, anchoring offensive lines in Baltimore, Carolina, and Los Angeles. His transition from left guard to center in 2021 proved he could handle the responsibilities of the most communication-heavy position on the field.
Other Performances
At Alabama, Bozeman was a four-year contributor on teams that reached the College Football Playoff in each of his starting seasons. He also played in two SEC Championship Games and helped the Crimson Tide post 11 100-yard rushing games during his first full year as a starting center in 2016.
Bradley Bozeman Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Bozeman is married to Nikki Hegstetter, a former Alabama basketball player. He proposed to her in 2018 after the College Football Playoff championship game against Georgia, and the couple married on March 23, 2019. The two have used their platform to support charitable causes close to their values.
In 2018, Bozeman and his wife founded the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation, which focuses on at-risk children and their families and educates them on the dangers of childhood bullying. The foundation has partnered with community organizations, including food drives with Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries during the 2020 pandemic.
2025 Season Performance
Bradley Bozeman enters 2025 as the Los Angeles Chargers’ entrenched starting center following his March 2025 contract extension. The two-year deal provides roster stability and reinforces the Chargers’ commitment to a veteran presence in the middle of their offensive line.
With a full offseason in the Chargers’ system, Bozeman is expected to continue calling protections and anchoring the run game for Justin Herbert. The 2025 outlook centers on chemistry with new pieces around him and building on the 17-game baseline he established in his first year in Los Angeles.
For Bozeman personally, the season represents a chance to reinforce his standing as one of the league’s most dependable interior linemen. If he stays healthy and maintains his level of play, another season of 17 starts and a clear role as a team leader would mark a successful 2025 campaign.