This is James Bradberry
James Bradberry is somewhere he’s not used to. A bright, bold smile flashes but it is fleeting. His body is in unfamiliar surroundings despite the choice of headwear.
Bradberry’s physical location is foreign and so is the experience he’s undertaking. One would figure a New York Giants corner – a Pro Bowler no less – would relish in the warm embrace of celebrity. Though, Bradberry is no ordinary player, nor is he the archetypal human. He resists the allure of spotlight, money and further fame in exchange for being true to himself.
That’s why he is initially matter-of-fact. Pleasant, respectful and enlightening, but as Bradberry later admits – outside his comfort zone. In true icebreaker fashion we discuss the weather, hoping to fan the flames of fluidity. The 28-year-old and his beanie lie thousands of miles from wintery New York. At this moment, he’s resting in his Arizona hotel room – where the Giants based themselves prior to their eventual 37-21 loss vs. the Chargers in Week 13.
Bradberry is pleased to be in warmer weather and even more thrilled to be outside of California. He’s thankful for practicing at the University of Arizona all week rather than somewhere in L.A. It’s not that Bradberry holds a candle for U of A. No, he’s just happy to have more money in his pocket thanks to Arizona’s comparably lenient taxes. Bradberry’s game check will be taxed in California but he’s still cheerful, grateful to avoid a ‘double dose.’ Though it’s not all James Bradberry is thankful for.
It’s said it takes a village to raise a man. In the case of Bradberry it took one – not a village but a single parent; his mother Rosie. Bradberry grew up in Pleasant Grove, Alabama – a city of less than 10,000 – without a father. His childhood didn’t feel different, there was no feeling of a void. Of course, there’s an element of single-parenthood being Bradberry’s norm but he kept himself busy. He would attend the local boys and girls club alongside playing football and basketball. Despite the chaos of sporting schedules, Saturdays were always booked out. A reservation for four was perpetually made; for Bradberry, his mother, sister and grandmother.
“My whole life it used to be me, my mom, my sister and my grandma. No matter where we were at,” Bradberry told Patrick Djordjevic. Bradberry’s grandmother has since passed but his family still remain in The Good Neighbor City, so too a part of Bradberry himself.
“That’s home for me, that’s where my heart is. I care for the city, I care for the people around there. I know their lifestyle, how they go through life, some of the struggles they may go through and of course some of the positive things they go through as well.”
The 28-year-old returns to Pleasant Grove each offseason, shunning the bright lights of New York and California – where many Pro Bowlers collaborate on Instagram and the gridiron. Instead, Bradberry works on his body while heavily investing in his community. Annual back-to-school giveaways, donations to his church and earthquake relief funding are all good deeds done by Bradberry. Yet there isn’t much noise about the acts or the man responsible for them. There’s a purity in Bradberry's desire to give back without fanfare, for that is who he is.
For eight months of the year, New York is where Bradberry’s body and mind reside. While his heart may stay in Alabama, his philanthropic nature crosses borders. Bradberry was intentional with the Christmas gifts he gave to fellow defensive backs including Xavier McKinney, Logan Ryan and Jabril Peppers. It wasn’t a flashy gadget or a status symbol, rather something practical and purposeful. Bradberry organized ChilliSleep sleep systems for his guys, allowing them to sleep at their ideal temperature, ensuring they sleep faster and wake up fresher.
It’s that same attention-to-detail and thoughtfulness which makes Bradberry the elite cornerback he is today. In isolation, his actions may seem obvious – take warming up his body inside pre-practice amidst the New Jersey winter as an example. Well duh some may say. Yet not every player does it. What exactly makes James Bradberry great?
“I just manage my time correctly.” That was it. No elaborate response, no secret sauce. Just a continuum of doing the right things at the right time, sticking to routine and maintaining discipline. It’s a way of life without sizzle but one in which delivers results. The approach itself is a microcosm for how Bradberry operates.
“I go out there and practice hard, I prepare – that’s what gives me my confidence once I get to Sunday. It’s not what I’m going to say – I can go out there and say ‘I’m the best guy’ but you can still go out there and get toasted. Words don’t mean anything, it’s all about your actions.
“I could probably get more marketing, more money but that ain’t me for real. You gotta be yourself. I also put myself out here more, that’s why I'm here talking with you my friend.”
There is a real warmth to Bradberry, a genuine nature bereft of ego – not readily seen in athletes of his stature. Though don’t be mistaken, he cares deeply for football and being great at his craft. He just won’t get drawn into bold proclamations about his standing within the league or among his fellow corners.
“I think you have to have the mindset that no one can beat you. I mean, I play corner but I’ve never been against another corner, I’m always going against receivers. So, I don’t really try to promote myself as being the best in the game. Everybody else is going to talk about it if that’s what it is. I just try to build the mindset of `This guy across from me can’t beat me.’
Bradberry has been beaten at times throughout his career, including this season, which he described as “up and down.” Defeat and subsequent criticisms are inevitable but how one responds to adversity goes a long way to determining who they are. After 40 minutes with Bradberry, he seems richer in character than in pocket. That’s notwithstanding the 3-year, $43.5 million contract he signed back in March 2020.
“When people say I’m not doing something right, you know of course that will affect my emotions and I might not feel well about that. I think for me I try to channel that energy and just try to attack getting better. The sun is going to rise, so you gotta keep going. Once you fail, you fail, so you might as well try and learn from it and work harder. Whatever you did didn’t work, so you gotta figure something else out.
It’s rather evident Bradberry is a man of poise on and off the gridiron, thoughtfulness is one of his foremost qualities. Clearly, he often thinks of others, but he also allows his mind to wander to other worlds, quite literally. Aliens and outer space have always interested the Samford alum. Despite outgrowing his fascination with extraterrestrials, Bradberry is keen to venture further into space, both in thought and action. Just not as quickly as Giants legend and Ring of Honor member Michael Strahan, who flew into space earlier this month.
“I wouldn’t be the first! I wouldn’t be in that early bunch. I’d probably be later on once we’ve had a few successful missions out there.”
As for where Bradberry would go, well, the choice was easy. ”Man, I’m trying to go to Pluto. That’s the goal man, to go to Pluto. That’s the furthest out there so of course, whatever’s out there it’s going to be the last to be touched. Whatever’s out there can probably withstand anything because it’s far out there!”
For now Bradberry is more than content with life on earth. His world was immeasurably enriched the moment daughter Xena Reign came into the world on Valentines Day, 2020. The early mornings, moments of pain and discomfort and scrutiny under the spotlight – all are worth it.
“She kind of changed things for me, she kind of changed the ball game. Now everything is for her. Everything I do. Essentially I become a better person and player and whatever because I do those things, but it affects her. Whatever I do is essentially going to trickle down and affect her. It’s all for her. She’s going to take over once I’m up out of here.”
The Giants’ No.24 isn’t going anywhere in the immediate future, but the same cannot be said for his general manager Dave Gettleman. The almost perpetually embattled Gettleman gave Bradberry his opportunity in the NFL, drafting him in the second round – 64th overall – in the 2016 Draft. Gettleman did the opposite of what most had during Bradberry’s football life. While GM of the Carolina Panthers he took a chance on a talented 22-year-old corner from an FCS school. So often doubted, Bradberry was finally given an opportunity in the big time — which he’s taken with both hands. Though not spoken, it’s apparent Bradberry has great reverence for the Giants’ 70-year-old GM.
“He’s a very resilient guy. Of course [scrolling] my explore page I might see some bad talk about me but I also see stuff they might also say about him. I’m sure he might go out and people talk about him as a GM and whatnot, but I would like to say he’s very resilient. He always comes in, no matter if we’ve lost or maybe I’ve had a bad game, he always comes in and speaks to me. He’s energetic, so I would say that about him.
“I would say I saw Dave Gettleman in the locker room or around us as players more than I’ve seen other GMs I’ve been under. You don’t really see that.”
Giants fans don’t see it either, but they view the losses stacking up. They feel them too – so does No.24. As for the team’s future, nothing is a given. Though in Bradberry they have a player with an unwavering desire to be his best – for his fans, his team and most importantly, those in sweet home Pleasant Grove, Alabama.