Getty Free agent LB Nigel Bradham.
Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham was arrested in Florida on felony charges on November 13, 2021. The 32-year-old free agent last played for the Denver Broncos in 2020 where he saw 17 special-teams snaps in one game.
Bradham faces allegations stemming from a traffic stop on Saturday, November 13, in Leon County. Florida Highway Patrol Master Corporal Patricia Jefferson-Shaw said a trooper saw Bradham driving and ran the tags on the 2021 Chevy Corvette — she didn’t specify what prompted the trooper to do that — which came back “not assigned,” according to Christopher Cann of the Tallahassee Democrat.
After pulling Bradham over, the arresting officer noticed the “strong odor of marijuana” and proceeded to search Bradham’s vehicle. The search turned up several items, per Cann, including “two handguns, 3.4 pounds of marijuana and 10 small bags, which the trooper believed to be for distribution.” One of the guns had been reported stolen from Missouri, Jefferson-Shaw said, according to the outlet.
According to Leon County court records, Bradham was charged with marijuana possession over 20 grams, marijuana possession with intent to sell and possession of a firearm during a felony. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office daily booking report indicates he was taken into custody. Court records show he appeared in court on November 14 and pleaded not guilty to all three felony charges, and he was released on a total of $4,500 in bonds. His conditions of release include abstaining from alcohol and refraining from criminal activity.
TMZ Sports reported that Bradham told police he had a medical marijuana card but his name didn’t show up in the state’s registry. The gossip website reported he had a Smith & Wesson pistol in a “satchel” and Glock 23 in the glovebox that “came back as stolen in Missouri.”
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Bradham Had Checkered History
This isn’t the first time Bradham has been in trouble with the law. Miami-Dade County court records show he was charged with felony aggravated battery in July 2016 after a physical altercation with a hotel employee, NBC Miami reported. The 241-pounder was upset over how long it took to get a beach umbrella, according to the outlet. Court records show that case was dismissed in January 2018 after Bradham completed a “deferred prosecution program.”
Bradham made headlines later that same year when TSA agents said they caught him at Miami International Airport carrying a loaded gun in a backpack on October 2, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Although he had a permit for the gun and police said there was no criminal intent,” the outlet reported, he was arrested on a second-degree misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon in part because he was out of bond on the July arrest. Bradham called it an “unintended mistake,” NBC Sports reported.
According to court records, that case was also dismissed in October 2017.
If the fight is against a cabana boy, Nigel Bradham is my first pick.
Bitter Eagles Divorce, Saints Release
Bradham was a starting linebacker for the Eagles during their 2017 Super Bowl championship run. He made 88 tackles (five for loss) in 15 games and even recorded a sack. In all, Bradham spent four seasons in Philly, where he thrived under former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
The game-sealing play from #Eagles CB Craig James and LB Nigel Bradham was reminiscent of a legendary Super Bowl moment and a great job by James of slipping the pick and making a play as Bradham gets a redemption moment after a near-pick six early on #FlyEaglesFly
However, they declined his club option in 2020 in a cap-saving move and let him walk in free agency. He signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints, where he appeared to take subtle shots at the Eagles’ organization before backtracking on those comments.
“We built that atmosphere of winning with Coach Pederson and I was the first free agency class he had,” Bradham told NBC10’s John Clark. “I love Philadelphia always and forever.”
Jim Schwartz’s full rant about Nigel Bradham’s arrest. #Eagles
He lasted less than three weeks in the Big Easy before surprisingly getting cut. Remember, this is the same guy that Schwartz once warned about doing “dumba** things” following his Miami incidents. Bradham also caused a stir in 2019 when he went AWOL and missed the team bus to New York for the Eagles’ final preseason game.