Bradie James

Bradie Gene James (born January 17, 1981 is an American football linebacker for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at LSU.

Early years
James went to Wossman High School in Monroe, Louisiana from 1995-1997. In 1998, he transferred to West Monroe High School in West Monroe, Louisiana. During his senior year, he helped lead his team to the 1998 Class 5A state title.

As a senior he also earned Parade All-America, All-State, Football Magazine’s All-Louisiana Team, class 5A defensive MVP and district defensive MVP honors, after totaling 136 tackles, 10 tackles for losses, five sacks and three fumble recoveries.

College career
In 1999, James went to Louisiana State University (LSU) to play college football for LSU's football team. He became the second player in LSU history to register more than 400 career tackles (behind Al Richardson), finishing with 418 tackles, including 33 for a loss, 29 quarterback pressures, 14 sacks, eight pass deflections, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

As a freshman (1999), James had 41 tackles, three sacks, and one interception. The following year, he recorded 110 tackles and five sacks and was named to the second team All-SEC team. James was also was named the Defensive MVP of the 2000 Peach Bowl.

During his junior year, LSU's defense was dubbed "the James Gang defense", a term applied to the unit largely because of his leadership. That year he had 113 tackles and three sacks and was named to the first team All-SEC team. During his college career he played his first three years at weakside linebacker, before moving to the middle as a senior.

In his final season at LSU, James was the team captain on defense, recorded 154 tackles (an LSU single season record), three sacks, and one interception. James was awarded All-American honors and become the first All-American linebacker for LSU since Michael Brooks (1985). He also was the first LSU linebacker to achieve first team All-SEC two years in a row since Warren Capone (first team All-SEC 1972, 1973). James was named a National Scholar Athlete and a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Dallas Cowboys
James was drafted in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He was the sixth middle/inside linebacker taken, behind Nick Barnett of Oregon State, Kawika Mitchell of South Florida, Gerald Hayes of Pittsburgh, Cie Grant of Ohio State, and Angelo Crowell of Virginia.

He backed up Pro Bowl outside linebacker Dexter Coakley in a 4–3 defense during his first two seasons in the league, while showing playmaking ability as a special teams performer in 2003 and 2004.

In 2005, the Cowboys changed to a 3–4 defense, allowing him to have a breakout year, while making the transition from special teams player to starting middle linebacker to lead the Cowboys with 109 tackles. In 2008, James became only the second Cowboys defender (Eugene Lockhart - 222 in 1989) to reach 200 tackles in a season.

James was the first player to lead the Cowboys in tackles for more than three straight seasons, eventually reaching a total of six consecutive seasons, the longest streak in franchise history. He also had a streak of 5 straight seasons with at least 100 tackles, that ended after the 2010 season.

He only missed two games in his Cowboys career (because he was deactivated as a rookie) and dealt each season, with the uncertainty of who would start at the other inside linebacker position, having to play with different teammates that included: Scott Shanle, Akin Ayodele, Zach Thomas, Keith Brooking and Sean Lee.

In 2011 with the emergence of Lee, James and Brooking split snaps at the other inside linebacker spot. At the end of the season, the club decided not to resign him, leaving as its sixth career leading tackler.

Houston Texans
After the Houston Texans traded DeMeco Ryans to the Philadelphia Eagles, they signed James to a one-year contract on April 12, 2012. He started 15 games (missing one with a hamstring injury), finished third on the team in tackles (77) and called all of the defense's signals/audibles.

Personal
In 2006, James was the co-host of "Inside The Huddle", a one-hour player commentary show that aired live on sports talk radio in Dallas along with quarterback Tony Romo. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

James was married on May 30, 2009.

Foundation 56
James established Foundation 56 as a breast cancer outreach program dedicated to providing access to quality services and resources for breast cancer patients and survivors.

Foundation 56 is a tribute to Bradie’s mother Etta, who died from the disease in 2001. Bradie often says if there had been the types of services offered because of Foundation 56 his mother would still be alive.

The Foundation supports education, mammogram screenings, diagnostic testing and social therapy programs. Twice a year, the Foundation awards grants to organizations committed to effectively promoting awareness of services and resources to breast cancer patients and survivors.