Will Bradley-King Bio
William Bradley-King (born December 22, 1997) is an American professional football linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and listed at around 240 pounds, he plays a hybrid edge-and-linebacker role that has carried him across multiple rosters since entering the league.
A late-round pick out of Baylor in 2021, Bradley-King has built his career largely on special teams and practice-squad resilience, cycling through Washington, New England, and Miami before reaching the 49ers. His journey from a Kansas City prep school to NFL practice squads reflects the patience required of seventh-round prospects trying to carve out a long-term role.
Early Life and Background
William Bradley-King was born on December 22, 1997, in Kansas City, Missouri. He grew up in the same urban environment that shaped many young athletes in the region, attending local schools while developing a frame that would eventually stretch to 6 feet 4 inches. His early football environment was grounded in Midwestern toughness and community-based competition.
He attended Hogan Preparatory Academy in Kansas City, a high school that has produced several professional athletes. Bradley-King played multiple defensive positions during his prep career, showing the athletic versatility that would later help him transition between defensive end and linebacker at the college level. His combination of length, speed, and physicality drew early attention from college scouts.
Coming from a metropolitan area with limited national recruiting spotlight, Bradley-King relied on his physical tools and senior-season production to earn a scholarship. The combination of his size, athletic upside, and willingness to do the unglamorous work on special teams ultimately opened the door to NCAA Division I football.
Path to Professional Football
Bradley-King began his college career at Arkansas State, where he played from 2016 through 2019 for the Red Wolves. He developed into a reliable edge defender in the Sun Belt Conference, earning Second-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2018 and First-team All-Sun Belt recognition in 2019. His production during those four seasons established him as one of the conference’s more disruptive front-seven players.
Following the 2019 season, he transferred to Baylor to finish his college eligibility in 2020, joining a Big 12 program with a stronger national profile. The single season with the Bears gave him exposure to higher-level competition and helped position him for the 2021 NFL draft. His path from Arkansas State to Baylor demonstrated a willingness to adapt and pursue better opportunities late in his college career.
Bradley-King’s draft projection was modest entering the spring of 2021, but his size, length, and athletic testing numbers made him an appealing late-round flier for teams looking for developmental edge talent. The Washington Football Team selected him in the seventh round, 240th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft.
Will Bradley-King Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Bradley-King signed his four-year rookie contract with the Washington Football Team on May 13, 2021. His first training camp ended quickly when he was released on August 31, 2021, as part of final roster cuts. He returned to Washington’s practice squad the following day, beginning a pattern of practice-squad moves that would follow him through his early NFL years.
In December 2021, he was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list before being activated later that month. He signed to Washington’s active roster on January 8, 2022, giving him a brief taste of game-day status. The 2022 preseason followed a familiar script, as he was waived on August 30 and re-signed to the practice squad a day later, then locked in a reserve/future contract in January 2023.
Washington Football Team / Commanders Era (2021–2023)
Bradley-King’s tenure in Washington was defined by constant roster churn. Throughout the 2021 and 2022 seasons he remained primarily on the practice squad, contributing to game preparation while waiting for opportunities on the active roster. His lone elevation during the 2021 campaign came at the very end of the regular season.
The 2023 offseason brought another wave of moves. He was waived on August 29, 2023, re-signed to the practice squad the same day, released on September 6, brought back to the active roster two days later, waived again on September 11, and re-signed to the practice squad three days after that. On October 14, 2023, he was released from the practice squad, ending his time in Washington after more than two seasons of stop-start movement.
New England Patriots Era (2023–2024)
On October 18, 2023, the New England Patriots signed Bradley-King to their practice squad, offering a fresh start in the AFC East. He remained there through the remainder of the 2023 season and into the following year, signing a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024. That deal reflected the Patriots’ belief in his developmental upside.
Bradley-King’s time in New England ended when he was waived on August 26, 2024, as part of final preseason cuts. Despite a contract that signaled long-term interest, he was unable to secure a spot on the initial 53-man roster, continuing the practice-squad cycle that had defined his career to that point.
Miami Dolphins Era (2024–2025)
Bradley-King joined the Miami Dolphins practice squad on August 30, 2024, four days after his release from New England. The Dolphins kept him in the developmental pipeline through the end of the season and rewarded him with a reserve/future contract on January 7, 2025. The move suggested Miami viewed him as a potential contributor on special teams and as edge depth.
On May 22, 2025, Bradley-King was waived by the Dolphins, ending his brief tenure with the franchise. The release freed him to pursue another opportunity, which arrived quickly when the San Francisco 49ers came calling less than three months later.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2025–Present)
On August 14, 2025, Bradley-King signed with the San Francisco 49ers, joining one of the NFL’s most consistent contenders. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. The 49ers released him on August 29, then brought him back on September 24 with another practice-squad deal, signaling continued interest in his development.
The 49ers’ edge-rushing depth chart and special-teams emphasis make Bradley-King a useful developmental piece to keep on the practice squad. His familiarity with multiple defensive schemes and willingness to play the run make him a low-risk stash for a team chasing a deep postseason run.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bradley-King’s game is built around his length and motor rather than elite burst. He is most effective setting the edge against the run, using his 6-foot-4 frame to keep offensive linemen from reaching the second level, and he has shown enough quickness off the snap to threaten occasional pressure. His special-teams value comes from his willingness to work in coverage and on kick blocks, traits that have kept him employable across four organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
His most notable milestone remains being a 2021 NFL draft selection by Washington in the seventh round, 240th overall. Earning First-team All-Sun Belt recognition in 2019 at Arkansas State stands as the highlight of his college résumé, and his repeated practice-squad signings across the league illustrate a perseverance story that has kept his NFL career alive into a fifth season.
Will Bradley-King Career Wins
Will Bradley-King’s win totals are limited because his professional career has been spent almost entirely on practice squads and short stints on active rosters. He has not yet established himself as a regular starter in the NFL, so his professional win ledger is closely tied to the teams he has been affiliated with rather than to a personal accumulation of victories.
College Highlights
Bradley-King’s most decorated college season came in 2019 at Arkansas State, when he was named First-team All-Sun Belt after a productive year as an edge rusher. The previous season, 2018, he earned Second-team All-Sun Belt recognition, giving him back-to-back all-conference nods before his transfer to Baylor. Those awards remain the cornerstone of his competitive résumé heading into his fifth professional season.
Will Bradley-King Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Bradley-King’s family and personal life is limited. He was raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and his developmental football journey was shaped in that community before he moved on to Arkansas State and later Baylor. There are no widely verified public details about his parents or siblings available in current sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been another year of roster movement for Bradley-King. After signing a reserve/future contract with the Dolphins in January, he was waived on May 22, 2025, ending his Miami tenure. He quickly found a new home, signing with the San Francisco 49ers on August 14 before going through the standard preseason cycle of being waived and re-signed to the practice squad.
By late September, Bradley-King was back on the 49ers’ practice squad after being released on August 29 and re-signed on September 24. The repeated churn reflects the reality of his role as a developmental edge and special-teams body rather than a featured defensive player. Staying healthy and continuing to contribute on scout-team looks remain his primary objectives for the back half of the season.
Looking ahead, Bradley-King’s best chance at a stable 53-man roster spot likely depends on either injuries opening a window on the 49ers’ defensive line or strong practice-squad play translating into a future contract. His track record of earning reserve/future deals suggests at least one organization will continue to view him as a worthwhile developmental project beyond 2025.