Brad Kragthorpe is in his sixth season on the Bengals' staff in 2024, and his first in the role of quarterbacks coach. He served as assistant quarterbacks coach in 2023, after spending two seasons ('21-22) as assistant wide receivers coach and two ('19-20) as an offensive assistant.
In 2023, Kragthorpe helped QB Jake Browning step into the starting role for the first time in his career after starter Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending injury in Game 10. Browning steered the Bengals to a 4-3 record as a starter, and in those seven weeks he ranked second in the NFL in passing yards (1868) and completion percentage (70.4), while passing for 11 TDs and netting a passer rating of 99.1. With a healthy Burrow from Games 5-9, the Bengals ranked fourth in the NFL in passing yards per game (275.6), seventh in scoring (26.6 points) and 11th in total yards (354.2).
In 2022, Kragthorpe worked with a dynamic receiving corps that featured Tyler Boyd, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Each player recorded over 700 receiving yards, making the Bengals one of two NFL teams with three WRs to reach that number. Chase, despite missing four games due to a hip injury, led the team in receptions (87), receiving yards (1046) and receiving TDs (nine) to earn his second straight Pro Bowl nod, while Higgins posted 74 catches for 1029 yards and seven TDs. Cincinnati's production at wide receiver helped drive an offense that ranked fifth in the NFL in passing yards per game (265.0).
In 2021, Kragthorpe worked with the team's first-round draft pick in Chase, who he previously coached at Louisiana State in 2018. Chase was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year after posting the most receiving yards by a first-year player in the Super Bowl era at the time (1455, since surpassed), while grabbing 13 receiving TDs. He and Higgins (1091 yards) became the first duo in NFL history to record 1000 receiving yards in the same season before the age of 23.
Serving as an offensive assistant in 2020, Kragthorpe helped QB Joe Burrow make the transition from college to the NFL after he was selected No. 1 overall in the draft. Prior to his season-ending knee injury in Game 10, Burrow's 264 completions were the most by an NFL QB through their first 10 career games, while his 2688 passing yards were fifth.
In 2019, Kragthorpe and the Cincinnati offensive staff helped key a turnaround in the second half of the season, as the Bengals averaged 70.6 more rushing yards over the final eight games (130.1) compared to the first eight (59.5). Their average rushing yards per attempt jumped 1.26 yards (3.17 to 4.43) over the same span, while they allowed 10 fewer sacks.
Kragthorpe spent the 2018 season as an offensive analyst at LSU, working with an offense that featured both Burrow and Chase. In his first season with the Tigers after transferring from Ohio State, Burrow started all 13 games and threw 16 TD passes to just five INTs (fewest by a starting QB in the SEC). He helped lead LSU to a 10-3 record and a victory in the Fiesta Bowl, where Chase had a game-high 93 receiving yards and a TD.
Prior to his time at LSU, Kragthorpe spent two seasons (2016-17) working with wide receivers at Utah State University as an offensive graduate assistant.
Before entering the coaching ranks, Kragthorpe was a college quarterback. He opened his collegiate career at Idaho State in 2011 (did not play), and then transferred to Louisiana State for his final three years of eligibility. After sitting out the 2012 season at LSU due to NCAA transfer rules, he played in 25 games from 2013-15 as a reserve QB and holder on placekicks. He was part of one of college football's signature plays in 2015 when, on a fake FG attempt against rival Florida, he threw a backward pass to K Trent Dominigue, who then raced 16 yards for what proved to be the game-winning score.
Kragthorpe was born March 2, 1992, in Flagstaff, Ariz. He attended Holland High School in Tulsa, Okla., where he was a standout in both football and baseball. His father, Steven Kragthorpe, was a college head coach at Tulsa (2003-06) and Louisville ('07-09). His grandfather, Dave Kragthorpe, was a college head coach at South Dakota State (1969), Idaho State ('80-82) and Oregon State ('85-90).
Playing and coaching history: 2011—Played QB at Idaho State. 2012-15—Played QB at Louisiana State. 2016-17—Graduate assistant coach, Utah State. 2018—Assistant coach (AC), Louisiana State. 2019-present—AC, Cincinnati Bengals.
