Brad Kragthorpe is in his eighth season on the Bengals' staff in 2026, and his third in the role of quarterbacks coach. He served as assistant QBs coach in 2023, after spending two seasons ('21-22) as assistant wide receivers coach and two ('19-20) as an offensive assistant.
In 2025, Kragthorpe worked with three different starting QBs who contributed to the Bengals ranking sixth in the NFL in net passing yards per game (235.6). Shortly after Pro Bowler Joe Burrow's injury early in the season, Cincinnati traded for veteran QB Joe Flacco, who Kragthorpe helped acclimate to the offense in notably short time. From his first Bengals start in Week 6 through his final start in Week 12, Flacco ranked second in the league in completions (154) and tied for third in TD passes (13). Burrow then returned to action for the final six weeks of the regular season, and in that span he led the NFL in completions (152) and was third in passing yards (1620).
In 2024, Kragthorpe helped guide Burrow to perhaps the best statistical season by a QB in Bengals history. The fifth-year pro led the NFL and set Cincinnati single-season records in completions (460), passing yards (4918) and TD passes (43). He passed for at least 250 yards and three TDs in eight consecutive games (Games 9-16), the longest such streak in league history. He earned his second career Pro Bowl selection, was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year and finished fourth in voting for NFL MVP.
In 2023, Kragthorpe helped QB Jake Browning step into the starting role for the first time in his career after 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). With a healthy Burrow from Games 5-9, the Bengals ranked fourth in the NFL in passing yards per game (275.6).
In 2021 and '22, Kragthorpe worked with a dynamic receiving corps headlined by Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who each eclipsed the 1000-yard receiving mark in both seasons. Chase compiled a noteworthy rookie campaign in 2021 that included the mist receiving yards by a first-year player in the Super Bowl era at the time (1455, since surpassed), helping him earn AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Serving as an offensive assistant in 2020, Kragthorpe helped 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.
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).
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. 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.
Kragthorpe's playing career included one season at Idaho State (2011; did not play) and three at LSU ('13-15). 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 ran 16 yards for what proved to be the game-winning score.
Kragthorpe was born March 2, 1992, in Flagstaff, Ariz. He attended Holland Hall School in Tulsa, Okla., where he was a standout in both football and baseball. His father, Steve 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.
