Seattle Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford has been a gift that keeps on giving this NFL season, at least for social media. Every week, it seems a new clip circulates in which the third-year player has a baffling rep and looks totally lost on the field.
Bradford's viral mishaps have gained enough online traction that other NFL players are even commenting on them. Former Seahawk Bruce Irvin recently reposted a clip on X that shows Bradford whiffing on a block. "Bruh eyes gotta be closed," Irvin wrote, adding a couple of dismayed emojis.
It's not just the blatant, one-off mistakes that are the issue, however. Bradford is consistently among Pro Football Focus's (subscription required) lowest-rated guards, and his up-and-down play is specifically limiting the Seahawks' one key area: the run game.
The Seahawks have struggled to run behind Anthony Bradford for most of the season
The Seahawks rank dead last in rushing efficiency, averaging a paltry 3.7 yards per carry, according to Pro Football Reference. This issue is magnified by the team's commitment to running the football. They rush on 48.98% of plays, which is third-most in the league.
There's a fair argument that sticking to the run game has opened up the big passing plays that Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba routinely hit on. Still, an NFL offense will always be erratic if it runs inefficient plays at a higher rate than the rest of the league.
In comparison, the only two teams that rush the football more, the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills, are averaging 4.2 and 5.5 yards per rushing attempt, respectively.
While Anthony Bradford isn't the only player responsible for the Seahawks' run-game deficiencies, he's certainly a major factor. The mauling, 335-pound lineman can provide a strong initial push in the trenches, but his limited mobility and lack of awareness on zone runs lead to these recurring issues. His five penalties are also the most on the offensive line.
Even though fans have clamored for it, the Seahawks haven't shown any indication of benching Bradford, who's played 97.2% of offensive snaps this year. Head coach Mike Macdonald has defended Bradford several times throughout the season, but he's also commented on the former fourth-round pick's high-profile miscues.
"I know there's some plays that are minuses or plays that aren't up to par, but there's also a lot of great plays as well," Macdonald told reporters in a Dec. 8 press conference.
There's hope that the run game has turned the corner, however. The Seahawks have averaged over 5.0 yards per carry in two of their last three matchups, including an impressive 6.8 yards per attempt in the Week 16 win over the Los Angeles Rams. But if the rushing attack reverts to its previous inefficiencies, it could derail a Seahawks' Super Bowl run.
So far, Bradford's 2025 season deserves a lump of coal. But all that matters from here is how he plays in the last two regular-season games and, most importantly, the playoffs. There's still time for him to turn things around and spread holiday cheer to Seahawks fans.