Lynn Bradford
{{short description|American football player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Lynn Bradford
|image=
|position=Fullback / Linebacker
|birth_date=
|birth_place=
|height_ft=6
|height_in=1
|weight_lbs=235
|high_school=
|college=Prairie View A&M
|undraftedyear=
|pastteams=
- Detroit Drive ({{AFL Year|1989|1990}})
- New York/New Jersey Knights (1991)*
- Tampa Bay Storm ({{AFL Year|1991|1992}})
|highlights=
|aflstatlabel1=Rushes
|aflstatvalue1=122
|aflstatlabel2=Rushing yards
|aflstatvalue2=530
|aflstatlabel3=Rushing TDs
|aflstatvalue3=13
|aflstatlabel4=Tackles
|aflstatvalue4=65
|aflstatlabel5=Sacks
|aflstatvalue5=4.5
|afl=171
}}
Lynn Bradford is an American former professional football player who played four seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Detroit Drive and Tampa Bay Storm. He played college football at Prairie View A&M University.
Early life
Bradford played college football for the Prairie View A&M Panthers of Prairie View A&M University. He rushed for just under 2,000 yards during his college career.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/172966410/ | title=Bradford's career at crossroads | work=The Tampa Tribune | date=June 15, 1991 | accessdate=23 May 2025 | author=Ward, Bill}}
Professional career
Bradford played in all four games for the Detroit Drive of the Arena Football League (AFL) in 1989, recording 19 carries for 96 yards and two touchdowns, two receptions for 16 yards and one touchdown, 12 solo tackles, four assisted tackles, 0.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and two pass breakups.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/171/ | title=Lynn Bradford | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=23 May 2025}} He was a fullback/linebacker during his time in the AFL as the league played under ironman rules. The Drive finished the season with a 3–1 record and advanced to ArenaBowl III, where they beat the Pittsburgh Gladiators by a score of 39–26.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1989arfldet.html | title=1989 Detroit Drive (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=23 May 2025}} Bradford was named first-team All-Arena for his performance during the 1989 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=171&pageview=bio | title=Lynn Bradford - Awards | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=23 May 2025}} He appeared in six games in 1990, totaling 32 rushes for 145 yards and four touchdowns, one catch for seven yards, six solo tackles, eight assisted tackles, one forced fumble, one pass breakup, and one blocked kick. The Drive went 6–2 and advanced to the ArenaBowl for the second consecutive season, this time beating the Dallas Texans in ArenaBowl IV by a margin of 51–27.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1990arfldet.html | title=1990 Detroit Drive (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=23 May 2025}}
In February 1991, Bradford was selected by the New York/New Jersey Knights of the World League of American Football (WLAF) in the 1991 WLAF draft as a running back.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record/172966215/ | title=Knights coach likes draft picks | work=The Record | date=February 17, 1991 | accessdate=23 May 2025 | pages=S9}} On March 11, 1991, it was reported that he had been waived.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle/172966274/ | title=Transactions | work=Democrat and Chronicle | date=March 11, 1991 | accessdate=23 May 2025 | pages=2C}}
Bradford played in eight games for the Tampa Bay Storm of the AFL in 1991, accumulating 61 rushing attempts for 261 yards and seven touchdowns, four receptions for 23 yards, 32 solo tackles, six assisted tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, one pass breakup, and one blocked kick. Tampa Bay finished the year with a 8–2 record and advanced to ArenaBowl V, where they beat Bradford's former team, the Detroit Drive by a score of 48–42.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1991arfltb.html | title=1991 Tampa Bay Storm (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=23 May 2025}} This was Bradford's third straight ArenaBowl victory. He earned first-team All-Arena recognition for the 1991 season. On June 6, 1992, he suffered a career-ending neck injury during the second game of the season, rupturing two discs in his neck due to a collision with a New Orleans Night receiver.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/172965733/ | title=Bradford may retire due to neck injury | work=The Tampa Tribune | date=June 25, 1992 | accessdate=23 May 2025}} He felt a burning sensation after the tackle and played the remainder of the game, but could not move his neck after the contest.
Personal life
Bradford lived in Houston during the AFL offseasons. He graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch with a degree in physical therapy, and worked as a licensed physical therapist during the AFL offseasons.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bradenton-herald/172966828/ | title=Soon-to-be Dr. Bradford leads Storm into opener | work=The Bradenton Herald | date=May 29, 1992 | accessdate=23 May 2025 | author=Brockman, Jim}} He was the Storm's fullbacks/linebackers coach from 1993 to 1994, and won his fourth ArenaBowl in 1993.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/172967573/ | title=Bradford still helping Storm win | work=The Tampa Tribune | date=August 18, 1993 | accessdate=23 May 2025 | author=Marti, Chris}}{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/172968125/ | title=Former NFL linebacker trying out with Storm | work=The Tampa Tribune | date=July 15, 1994 | accessdate=23 May 2025}} Bradford later served as an assistant football coach at several high schools in Florida.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times/172968182/ | title=At A Glance | work=Tampa Bay Times | date=August 31, 1995 | accessdate=23 May 2025}}{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/172968219/ | title=Familiarity helps breed new coach | work=The Tampa Tribune | date=July 12, 1996 | accessdate=23 May 2025 | author=Knight, Joey}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=bradflyn001&recsort=6 Stats Crew profile]
{{ArenaBowl III}}
{{ArenaBowl IV}}
{{ArenaBowl V}}
{{ArenaBowl VII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bradford, Lynn}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American football fullbacks
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Prairie View A&M Panthers football players
Category:Detroit Drive players
Category:New York/New Jersey Knights players
Category:Tampa Bay Storm players
Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
Category:University of Texas Medical Branch alumni