Thad Bogardus
{{Draft article}}
{{Short description|American football coach (born 1989)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Thad Bogardus
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Minnesota Vikings
| position = Outside linebackers coach
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|01|01|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Redding, Connecticut, U.S.
| high_school = La Salle College High School (PA)
| college = Elon University
| pastcoaching =
- Ball State (2011)
Football operations graduate assistant - Ball State (2012–2013)
Defensive graduate assistant - Buffalo Bills (2014)
Defensive quality control coach - Denver Broncos (2015–2016)
Coaching intern / defensive coaching assistant - Los Angeles Rams (2017–2018)
Defensive quality control coach - Los Angeles Rams (2019–2020)
Assistant defensive line / quality control coach - Los Angeles Rams (2021)
Assistant linebackers coach - Los Angeles Rams (2022)
Outside linebackers coach - Minnesota Vikings (2023–2024)
Assistant inside linebackers coach - Minnesota Vikings (2025–present)
Outside linebackers coach
| highlights =
- Super Bowl LVI champion (2021)
- Super Bowl 50 champion (2015)
}}
Thad Bogardus (born 1989) is an American football coach who is the outside linebackers coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He previously worked for the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills.{{cite web |title=Vikings Hire Thad Bogardus as Assistant Coach |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/thad-bogardus-hired-linebackers-coach |website=Vikings.com |access-date=May 24, 2025}}
Early life and education
Bogardus is a native of Redding, Connecticut. He attended Elon University, where he earned a degree in finance in 2011. While at Elon, he served as a student assistant and assistant video coordinator for the football program between 2007 and 2010.{{cite web |title=Elon Grad Bogardus Hired by Bills |url=https://elonphoenix.com/news/2014/4/4/FB_0404142033.aspx |website=ElonPhoenix.com |access-date=May 24, 2025}}
Coaching career
= College coaching =
Bogardus began his coaching career at Ball State University, serving as a football operations graduate assistant in 2011 and as a defensive graduate assistant from 2012 to 2013.{{cite web |title=Ball State Staff Directory – Thad Bogardus |url=https://ballstatesports.com/staff-directory/thad-bogardus/174 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}
= NFL career =
== Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos ==
Bogardus joined the NFL in 2014 as a defensive quality control coach with the Buffalo Bills. He then spent two seasons with the Denver Broncos (2015–2016), first as a coaching intern and then as a defensive coaching assistant. He was part of the coaching staff that helped win Super Bowl 50.{{cite web |title=Broncos Promote Bogardus |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-promote-thad-bogardus |website=DenverBroncos.com |access-date=May 24, 2025}}
== Los Angeles Rams ==
Bogardus joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 and spent six seasons with the team. He worked as a defensive quality control coach (2017–2018), assistant defensive line/quality control coach (2019–2020), and assistant linebackers coach (2021). He was promoted to outside linebackers coach in 2022. He was part of the Rams' coaching staff during their Super Bowl LVI championship season in 2021.
== Minnesota Vikings ==
On March 21, 2023, Bogardus was hired by the Minnesota Vikings as the assistant inside linebackers coach. He helped guide a defense that led the NFL in forced fumbles (21) and posted the second-most games (eight) with at least one forced fumble and one interception in 2023.{{cite web |title=Vikings Defense Makes Big Strides in 2023 |url=https://www.startribune.com/vikings-defense-2023-turnover-leaders/600332900/ |website=StarTribune.com |access-date=May 24, 2025}}
Bogardus played a key role in the development of undrafted rookie Ivan Pace Jr., who led all NFL rookies with 102 tackles in 2023 and became only the third undrafted rookie since 1987 to record over 100 tackles.{{cite news |title=Ivan Pace Jr. Emerging Star in Vikings Defense |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/ivan-pace-jr-vikings-rookie-impact |work=NFL.com |date=January 8, 2024 |access-date=May 24, 2025}}
In 2024, Minnesota improved to a 14–3 record, with its defense leading the league in takeaways and ranking among the best in stopping the run and defending fourth-down attempts. Linebackers Blake Cashman and Pace Jr. recorded career highs in multiple categories under Bogardus' guidance.{{cite magazine |title=Cashman, Pace Thrive Under New Linebackers Coach |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/vikings-linebackers-2024-blake-cashman-ivan-pace |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=May 24, 2025}}
In 2025, he was promoted to outside linebackers coach.{{cite web |title=Thad Bogardus Promoted to OLBs Coach |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/thad-bogardus-outside-linebackers-coach-2025 |website=Vikings.com |access-date=May 24, 2025}}
Personal life
Bogardus and his wife, Lauren, have two children: a daughter, Erika, and a son, Brooks.{{cite web |title=Vikings Coaching Staff Bio – Thad Bogardus |url=https://www.vikings.com/team/coaches-roster/thad-bogardus |access-date=May 24, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.vikings.com/team/coaches-roster/thad-bogardus Minnesota Vikings profile]
- [https://www.elonphoenix.com/news/2014/4/4/FB_0404142033.aspx Elon University article]
- [https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/vikings-linebackers-2024-blake-cashman-ivan-pace Sports Illustrated - Vikings LBs]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bogardus, Thad}}
Category:People from Redding, Connecticut
Category:Players of American football from Connecticut
Category:Ball State Cardinals football coaches
Category:Buffalo Bills coaches
Category:Denver Broncos coaches