Brad Kragthorpe is in his seventh season on the Bengals' staff in 2025, and his second 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 2024, Kragthorpe worked with fifth-year QB Joe Burrow, who both led the NFL and set Bengals single-season records in completions (460), passing yards (4918) and TD passes (43). Burrow passed for at least 250 yards and three TDs in eight consecutive games (Game 9-16), the longest such streak in league history, and he became the fourth QB ever with at least 4500 yards and 40 TDs while throwing 10 or fewer INTs (nine). 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) and seventh in scoring (26.6 points).
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.
In 2021, Kragthorpe once again worked with Chase, the team's first-round who he previously coached at Louisiana State in '18. 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). 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 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.
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 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.
