Garrett Bradbury Bio
Garrett Bradbury is an American professional football center for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina State Wolfpack and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 136 kilograms, Bradbury is recognized for his work at the pivot of the offensive line and his run-blocking consistency.
Over six NFL seasons, Bradbury developed into a reliable starting center and earned recognition as one of the conference’s top interior linemen during his collegiate career. In March 2025, he joined the New England Patriots on a two-year agreement, beginning the next phase of his professional journey.
Early Life and Background
Garrett Bradbury was born on June 20, 1995, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He grew up in the Charlotte area and attended Charlotte Christian School, a private institution known for its competitive athletic programs. During his time at Charlotte Christian, Bradbury developed a strong athletic foundation that would later support his transition to the offensive line at the college level.
At Charlotte Christian, Bradbury played high school football as a tight end and defensive lineman. His size and movement skills stood out early, and his high school coaches helped him refine the blocking techniques that would later define his college position change. The combination of basketball-style footwork and football strength gave him a versatile athletic base heading into college recruitment.
Path to American Football
Bradbury committed to North Carolina State University, where he joined the Wolfpack football program with the intention of playing tight end. The coaching staff at NC State quickly identified his frame and athleticism as a better fit for the offensive line, and in 2015, Bradbury made the position switch that would shape his football future.
The transition required a complete technical overhaul. Bradbury learned to play with his hand in the dirt, master double-team blocks, and develop the communication skills required of an interior lineman. As he gained experience, his snapping technique improved and his understanding of pass protection grew. By his senior season in 2018, he had become one of the most respected centers in college football.
Garrett Bradbury Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Bradbury entered the NFL as a first-round selection, chosen 18th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Vikings viewed him as a long-term answer at center, and he was inserted into the starting lineup immediately. As a rookie, Bradbury started all 16 regular season games and both of Minnesota’s playoff games during the 2019 season, an unusually heavy workload for a first-year center.
In 2020, Bradbury continued as the Vikings’ starting center and started all 16 games. The season gave him a full two years of NFL experience and helped him build chemistry with the Vikings’ quarterbacks and guard corps. His snapping accuracy and ability to handle large defensive tackles were growing strengths entering his third professional season.
Minnesota Vikings Breakthrough (2021–2022)
During the 2021 season, Bradbury started all 13 games in which he appeared, dealing with minor injuries that kept him sidelined for stretches. In 2022, he appeared in and started 12 games and continued to develop his role as a veteran leader on the offensive line. The Vikings declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract on May 2, 2022, which made him scheduled to become a free agent after that season.
One of the most memorable moments of Bradbury’s Vikings tenure came on January 2, 2022, when he was part of a play that re-enacted former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris’s Immaculate Reception. Quarterback Sean Mannion attempted a pass to tight end Tyler Conklin, who was hit by two Green Bay Packers defenders. The hit caused the ball to be deflected into the air, where Bradbury caught it and turned the play into a 21-yard reception, a rare highlight for an offensive lineman.
Contract Extension and Final Vikings Seasons (2023–2024)
On March 14, 2023, Bradbury signed a three-year, $15.7 million contract extension with the Vikings, securing his role as the team’s starting center. In the 2023 season, he appeared in and started 14 games, anchoring the middle of the offensive line and providing leadership during a transitional period for the franchise.
The 2024 season represented a career milestone for durability and consistency. Bradbury started all 17 games and played every offensive snap of the season, a remarkable feat of conditioning and reliability. His performance cemented his value as a dependable veteran center before the Vikings released him on March 17, 2025, ending his six-season tenure in Minnesota.
New England Patriots Era (2025–Present)
On March 18, 2025, one day after his release from Minnesota, Bradbury signed a two-year deal worth up to $12 million with the New England Patriots. The contract included a total value of $12,000,000 in U.S. dollars and runs through the 2027 NFL season. The signing gave the Patriots an experienced center to anchor their offensive line rebuild.
Bradbury’s move to New England represented a fresh start on a team looking to establish a new identity along the interior of its offensive line. His track record of durability, including a full-season snap count in 2024, made him an attractive addition for a Patriots roster in transition.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bradbury is recognized for his strength at the point of attack and his ability to anchor against powerful nose tackles in the run game. His snapping accuracy and communication at the line of scrimmage allow offenses to operate efficiently in both the run and pass game. Teammates and coaches have credited his preparation and football intelligence as key factors in his longevity as a starter.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bradbury’s most unusual career highlight came on January 2, 2022, when he recorded a 21-yard reception off a deflected pass in a play that echoed Franco Harris’s famous Immaculate Reception. He also completed the 2024 season by playing every offensive snap across 17 games, an extraordinary durability milestone for an interior lineman.
Garrett Bradbury Career Highlights
Garrett Bradbury’s career is defined by his development from a high school tight end in Charlotte to a first-round NFL draft pick and a six-year starter at center. His collegiate accolades and professional durability reflect a player who has consistently delivered in the trenches.
NC State and College Accolades
As a senior at North Carolina State in 2018, Bradbury was a consensus All-American and won the Rimington Trophy, awarded to the top center in college football. He also earned first-team All-ACC honors that same season and did not allow a single quarterback sack in over 900 offensive snaps. These accomplishments established him as one of the most decorated centers in NC State history and helped position him as a first-round NFL prospect.
Professional Milestones
Bradbury started all 16 regular season games as a rookie in 2019, both of Minnesota’s playoff games that year, and every game in which he appeared in 2020. He played every offensive snap of the 2024 season, a testament to his conditioning. Across his Minnesota tenure from 2019 to 2024, he served as a consistent presence at center and developed into a team leader along the offensive line.
Garrett Bradbury Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Bradbury grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he attended Charlotte Christian School. The supportive environment of his family and his Charlotte-area football community helped him develop into the athlete who would eventually become a first-round NFL draft pick. Specific public details about his parents and siblings are not widely documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Bradbury’s personal life, including marital status, has not been widely publicized in verified sources. He continues to reside in the United States and is represented on social media under his own name. Public information regarding his family life is limited beyond his Charlotte roots and his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season marks Garrett Bradbury’s first year with the New England Patriots after signing a two-year contract in March 2025. The Patriots are integrating Bradbury into the center of their offensive line as they look to build consistency and toughness in the trenches. His experience and leadership are expected to be central to the team’s offensive identity.
Bradbury’s value to New England lies in his durability, having played every offensive snap during the 2024 season with Minnesota, and in his communication skills at the line of scrimmage. The Patriots’ coaching staff is expected to rely on his preparation and snapping accuracy to stabilize a young offense. His contract runs through the 2027 season, providing the franchise with long-term stability at the position.
Early in the 2025 season, Bradbury is positioned to anchor the middle of the Patriots’ offensive line and help establish a physical identity for a team in transition. His track record of starting and his veteran presence give New England a reliable centerpiece as the season develops.