After AAF folded, Carl was selected by the XFL Houston Roughnecks during the open phase of the league draft.
In 5 games, Carl posted 5 combined tackles, 2 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, and one tackle for loss.
NOTES:
I didn’t really have much else of Carl Bradford left except for his Sage card. A few days later I got in his Upper Deck that I hoped to eventually get signed but the league folded before that happened.
At the season ticket holders party, Carl was a great ambassador for the XFL. His exuberance and excitement was infectious to all the fans around him. He was willing to sign anything you had and gave you his full attention while doing so. We chatted briefly about the AAF and the card he had, to which he told me he had a stack of the player issued cards at home somewhere, and he had an amazing experience playing for the Hotshots.
I’ve been working with and helping out a local UT collector named Mark recently. He and I have traded tips and helped each other out on the autograph front. A few weeks ago he sent me a package and this was inside. It was totally unexpected but very appreciated.
Carl Bradford played for Arizona State at outside linebacker/ defensive end from 2011 to 2013, racking up 154 total tackles, 21.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 4 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions. He’d be selected in the 4th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He really didn’t see too much action at the pro level and as a tweener the Pack couldn’t decide if they should play him inside or outside. By 2016 was on the roster of the 49ers and was cut in 2017. Over his pro career Bradford had 3 combined tackles, and 1 TFL.
Carl was signed by the Arizona Hotshots of the AAF for 2019. He finished with 11 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass deflection and a forced fumble in what looks like 4 games of action. His best game came against Atlanta when Carl posted 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
