By Scott DeCamp
LocalSportsJournal.com
Anthony Bradford’s head still spins a bit when he thinks about the whirlwind in which he’s been immersed in recent weeks.
The 2019 Muskegon High School alumnus continues to reach rarified air, most recently as a starting right offensive guard for the Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks.
Bradford is in select company, having won the ultimate prize at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. He is the first Muskegon native to have won a Super Bowl since Muskegon High legend Earl Morrall pulled the feat in 1971, 1973, and 1974.
Oh, and Bradford is only 24 years old.
“I was just talking to my folks last night. It was just crazy – like, they put it in perspective,” Bradford said during an interview with Scott DeCamp for this story. “A lot of accolades and, you know, the stuff that people don’t do in their whole career and I’m doing it before (age) 25, so it’s just a blessing to be here – a blessing to be in the moment, you know.
“Just to be in the company with that type of (accomplishment) and just to be solidified in stone for history, it’s just cool.”
Bradford admitted he hasn’t always been passionate about football, but it grew on him when he arrived at Muskegon High.
The 6-foot-4, 335-pound “gentle giant,” as Muskegon athletic director Keith Guy calls him, said Seattle is “beautiful”. But a big piece of his heart remains in Muskegon.
“It means the world – it’s where I’m from, you know,” Bradford said. “I grew up playing in the streets as a young boy. The community shows love for sure and I can feel that.”
Guy is among those in Muskegon who beam like a proud parent when he considers all that Bradford has achieved and the role model he continues to be for youth in the city.
“I think it’s huge (winning the Super Bowl) and it makes me very, very proud because anytime you see a young man hold his dreams and be at the top of his game, the level he’s at, it’s great,” Guy said. “How many kids dream of playing NFL football, and not only NFL football, but getting to the Super Bowl and winning it?
“I mean, I’m just so happy for that kid. He deserves it and it’s good for our community as well to see someone be able to do that. It also lets the kids in this community see that you can see your dreams come true.”
It hasn’t always been a smooth ride.
For Muskegon football coach Shane Fairfield watching Bradford mature from a freshman who was “just standing there during plays,” to a sophomore when the switch flipped and he realized, “Oh, this is pretty fun pushing people around,” has been extremely satisfying and rewarding.
Bradford became a three-year starter on the offensive line at Muskegon High, helping the Big Reds win 27 straight games spanning the 2017 and 2018 seasons, highlighted by their Division 3 state championship during his junior year in 2017. He was part of three straight Muskegon teams that made it to Ford Field.
“The week after (this year’s) NFC championship game, I had all the (Big Reds) players in my office and we were watching (Bradford’s) highlight films. And even I had kind of forgotten, you know, because it’s been, what, five years or six years or even more now that he’s played (at Muskegon). And, wow. I mean, he was special,” said Fairfield, who attended the Super Bowl along with Brooke Bartholomew, the Big Reds’ director of operations. They sat with Bradford’s family and friends.
“Those last four or five games (this season with the Seahawks), he was playing like a fifth-, sixth-year veteran. He was making some really good plays, getting out on the screens, blocking in space, you know. I’d yell at the TV, ‘Tony, you should have done this! Tony, you should have done that!”
Bradford was a consensus four-star prospect coming out of Muskegon and the 11th-ranked offensive tackle in the nation for his graduating class, according to Rivals.com. He signed to play college football at LSU. He enjoyed a productive and memorable time there. At LSU, Bradford started 17 of 29 games, primarily at right guard, and he was part of the Tigers’ national title team in 2019 which was led by quarterback Joe Burrow.
Bradford was selected by the Seahawks in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. In his first three years with the Seahawks, he started 38 of the 42 regular-season games in which he appeared.
Bradford missed some time during the 2024 season after he suffered an ankle injury in Week 12. He battled his way back for the 2025 campaign and established himself as a fixture on the offensive line.
Bradford started every game this season. He helped open running lanes for star running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III as well as protect QB Sam Darnold.
For the Super Bowl, Bradford said the build-up and anticipation were probably the worst parts from an anxiety standpoint. He said that once the game kicked off, he was able to calm down and settle in.
While the celebration didn’t officially begin until the final seconds ticked off the clock in Seattle’s 29-13 victory over New England, the party started a bit earlier when a shirtless man streaked across the field early in the fourth quarter.
In some ways, that added to the overall memories of the Super Bowl, according to Bradford.
“I think it was the complete Super Bowl experience once the streaker came on the field and, like, was running across the whole field,” Bradford said with a smile. “I think that kind of completed my experience of the Super Bowl. That’s probably the funniest moment for me.”
An estimated 1 million people showed up for the Feb 11 Seahawks’ Super Bowl parade and celebration.
In 2026, Bradford will be in the final year of his four-year rookie contract with the Seahawks. The overall deal is worth more than $4.6 million, according to Spotrac.com.
Bradford said it’s been a gradual progression for him from Muskegon to LSU to Seattle. He’s trying to stay focused, and a few folks back home in Muskegon help him to do that.
“That’s a huge year (in 2026), just like this was a huge year for me,” Bradford said. “Like, just seeing progress and just being better – a way better player inside, deep inside, that I’ve got to unlock. That’s what I’m trying to do every season. Just being in the league is a blessing because it’s not for long. I’m trying to seize the moment: Work hard, get better, and run it back (with another Super Bowl title) or something.”
Bradford said that two of his biggest influences are mother Latoya Bradford and uncle Edric Shepard, plus Fairfield. And he is very grateful for the support he receives from his hometown.
“I didn’t really love football growing up. When I got to Muskegon (High), that’s kind of, like, when it grew on me. … Seeing all of the hard work that’s getting put in, the discipline you have to have.
“Muskegon football is probably the closest you ever get to college football if you don’t go to college. Muskegon built me to who I was at LSU, and LSU helped me build a little bit more. But Muskegon was definitely the foundation for me.”
He understands that young eyes are watching and admirers back home are proud, so he feels good about giving of his time when he does visit Muskegon.
“Those (young) people are watching, you know,” he said. “I grew up here, so for the people that saw me grow up and are just proud of me and support me, it’s only right to come back and give back to the little boys and girls. Being able to come back and have kids see me in real time, it makes a difference in their mindset.”
Editor’s note: The story was edited for space.
LocalSportsJournal.com
Anthony Bradford’s head still spins a bit when he thinks about the whirlwind in which he’s been immersed in recent weeks.
The 2019 Muskegon High School alumnus continues to reach rarified air, most recently as a starting right offensive guard for the Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks.
Bradford is in select company, having won the ultimate prize at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. He is the first Muskegon native to have won a Super Bowl since Muskegon High legend Earl Morrall pulled the feat in 1971, 1973, and 1974.
Oh, and Bradford is only 24 years old.
“I was just talking to my folks last night. It was just crazy – like, they put it in perspective,” Bradford said during an interview with Scott DeCamp for this story. “A lot of accolades and, you know, the stuff that people don’t do in their whole career and I’m doing it before (age) 25, so it’s just a blessing to be here – a blessing to be in the moment, you know.
“Just to be in the company with that type of (accomplishment) and just to be solidified in stone for history, it’s just cool.”
Bradford admitted he hasn’t always been passionate about football, but it grew on him when he arrived at Muskegon High.
The 6-foot-4, 335-pound “gentle giant,” as Muskegon athletic director Keith Guy calls him, said Seattle is “beautiful”. But a big piece of his heart remains in Muskegon.
“It means the world – it’s where I’m from, you know,” Bradford said. “I grew up playing in the streets as a young boy. The community shows love for sure and I can feel that.”
Guy is among those in Muskegon who beam like a proud parent when he considers all that Bradford has achieved and the role model he continues to be for youth in the city.
“I think it’s huge (winning the Super Bowl) and it makes me very, very proud because anytime you see a young man hold his dreams and be at the top of his game, the level he’s at, it’s great,” Guy said. “How many kids dream of playing NFL football, and not only NFL football, but getting to the Super Bowl and winning it?
“I mean, I’m just so happy for that kid. He deserves it and it’s good for our community as well to see someone be able to do that. It also lets the kids in this community see that you can see your dreams come true.”
It hasn’t always been a smooth ride.
For Muskegon football coach Shane Fairfield watching Bradford mature from a freshman who was “just standing there during plays,” to a sophomore when the switch flipped and he realized, “Oh, this is pretty fun pushing people around,” has been extremely satisfying and rewarding.
Bradford became a three-year starter on the offensive line at Muskegon High, helping the Big Reds win 27 straight games spanning the 2017 and 2018 seasons, highlighted by their Division 3 state championship during his junior year in 2017. He was part of three straight Muskegon teams that made it to Ford Field.
“The week after (this year’s) NFC championship game, I had all the (Big Reds) players in my office and we were watching (Bradford’s) highlight films. And even I had kind of forgotten, you know, because it’s been, what, five years or six years or even more now that he’s played (at Muskegon). And, wow. I mean, he was special,” said Fairfield, who attended the Super Bowl along with Brooke Bartholomew, the Big Reds’ director of operations. They sat with Bradford’s family and friends.
“Those last four or five games (this season with the Seahawks), he was playing like a fifth-, sixth-year veteran. He was making some really good plays, getting out on the screens, blocking in space, you know. I’d yell at the TV, ‘Tony, you should have done this! Tony, you should have done that!”
Bradford was a consensus four-star prospect coming out of Muskegon and the 11th-ranked offensive tackle in the nation for his graduating class, according to Rivals.com. He signed to play college football at LSU. He enjoyed a productive and memorable time there. At LSU, Bradford started 17 of 29 games, primarily at right guard, and he was part of the Tigers’ national title team in 2019 which was led by quarterback Joe Burrow.
Bradford was selected by the Seahawks in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. In his first three years with the Seahawks, he started 38 of the 42 regular-season games in which he appeared.
Bradford missed some time during the 2024 season after he suffered an ankle injury in Week 12. He battled his way back for the 2025 campaign and established himself as a fixture on the offensive line.
Bradford started every game this season. He helped open running lanes for star running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III as well as protect QB Sam Darnold.
For the Super Bowl, Bradford said the build-up and anticipation were probably the worst parts from an anxiety standpoint. He said that once the game kicked off, he was able to calm down and settle in.
While the celebration didn’t officially begin until the final seconds ticked off the clock in Seattle’s 29-13 victory over New England, the party started a bit earlier when a shirtless man streaked across the field early in the fourth quarter.
In some ways, that added to the overall memories of the Super Bowl, according to Bradford.
“I think it was the complete Super Bowl experience once the streaker came on the field and, like, was running across the whole field,” Bradford said with a smile. “I think that kind of completed my experience of the Super Bowl. That’s probably the funniest moment for me.”
An estimated 1 million people showed up for the Feb 11 Seahawks’ Super Bowl parade and celebration.
In 2026, Bradford will be in the final year of his four-year rookie contract with the Seahawks. The overall deal is worth more than $4.6 million, according to Spotrac.com.
Bradford said it’s been a gradual progression for him from Muskegon to LSU to Seattle. He’s trying to stay focused, and a few folks back home in Muskegon help him to do that.
“That’s a huge year (in 2026), just like this was a huge year for me,” Bradford said. “Like, just seeing progress and just being better – a way better player inside, deep inside, that I’ve got to unlock. That’s what I’m trying to do every season. Just being in the league is a blessing because it’s not for long. I’m trying to seize the moment: Work hard, get better, and run it back (with another Super Bowl title) or something.”
Bradford said that two of his biggest influences are mother Latoya Bradford and uncle Edric Shepard, plus Fairfield. And he is very grateful for the support he receives from his hometown.
“I didn’t really love football growing up. When I got to Muskegon (High), that’s kind of, like, when it grew on me. … Seeing all of the hard work that’s getting put in, the discipline you have to have.
“Muskegon football is probably the closest you ever get to college football if you don’t go to college. Muskegon built me to who I was at LSU, and LSU helped me build a little bit more. But Muskegon was definitely the foundation for me.”
He understands that young eyes are watching and admirers back home are proud, so he feels good about giving of his time when he does visit Muskegon.
“Those (young) people are watching, you know,” he said. “I grew up here, so for the people that saw me grow up and are just proud of me and support me, it’s only right to come back and give back to the little boys and girls. Being able to come back and have kids see me in real time, it makes a difference in their mindset.”
Editor’s note: The story was edited for space.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
