Blue Tornado Football

McCallie football is a program of extended excellence: The Blue Tornado football team has had seven consecutive appearances in the playoff semifinals and has won four state championships in the last five years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2023), with a fifth title won in 2001. The team competes in Division II Class AAA, the state’s toughest and most competitive division. 

Joel Bradford was named McCallie football’s head coach on December 6, 2023. He became the 28th head coach in the school’s history and took over for Ralph Potter, who successfully ran two stints with the Blue Tornado from 1997-2006 and 2012-2023.

Joel held the role of offensive coordinator under Coach Potter. A college football All-American locally at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, he was also a four-sport star at McCallie, graduating in 2007.

McCallie football alumni have joined some of the nation’s top universities to continue their athletic careers, including Power Five schools such as Duke, the University of Missouri, and the University of Tennessee. With three teams in the upper school division and a middle school division, our student-athletes have an opportunity to develop and reach their greatest potential, no matter their skill level.

It's about the brotherhood. Also, the coaching staff knows what each player is capable of. They do a great job of getting to know us and put us in a position to succeed.McMahan '23