Bradshaw was born in Shreveport, Louisiana.
His father, William Marvin "Bill" Bradshaw (1927–2014), a native of Sparta, Tennessee, was a veteran of the United States Navy, a former vice president of manufacturing of the Riley Beaird Company in Shreveport, and a Southern Baptist layman.
Terry's mother, Novis (née Gay; born 1929), was one of five children of Clifford and Lula Gay of Red River Parish, Louisiana.
He has an older brother, Gary, and a younger brother, Craig.

The work ethic was particularly strong in the Bradshaw household.
In his early childhood, the family lived in Camanche, Iowa, where he set forth the goal to play professional football.
When he was a teenager, Bradshaw returned with his family to Shreveport.
There, he attended Woodlawn High School, played under assistant coach A. L. Williams, and led the Knights to the AAA state championship game in 1965, but lost 12–9 to the Sulphur Golden Tornadoes.
While at Woodlawn, he set a national record for throwing the javelin at 245 feet (74.68 m); his exploits earned him a spot in the Sports Illustrated feature Faces In The Crowd.
Bradshaw's successor as Woodlawn's starting quarterback was another future NFL standout, Joe Ferguson of the Buffalo Bills.
Bradshaw's Steelers would defeat Ferguson's Bills in a 1974 divisional playoff game.
Bradshaw was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. His father, William Marvin "Bill" Bradshaw (1927–2014), a native of Sparta, Tennessee, was a veteran of the United States Navy, a former vice president of manufacturing of the Riley Beaird Company in Shreveport, and a Southern Baptist layman. Terry's mother, Novis (née Gay; born 1929), was one of five children of Clifford and Lula Gay of Red River Parish, Louisiana. He has an older brother, Gary, and a younger brother, Craig.
The work ethic was particularly strong in the Bradshaw household. In his early childhood, the family lived in Camanche, Iowa, where he set forth the goal to play professional football. When he was a teenager, Bradshaw returned with his family to Shreveport. There, he attended Woodlawn High School, played under assistant coach A. L. Williams, and led the Knights to the AAA state championship game in 1965, but lost 12–9 to the Sulphur Golden Tornadoes. While at Woodlawn, he set a national record for throwing the javelin at 245 feet (74.68 m); his exploits earned him a spot in the Sports Illustrated feature Faces In The Crowd. Bradshaw's successor as Woodlawn's starting quarterback was another future NFL standout, Joe Ferguson of the Buffalo Bills. Bradshaw's Steelers would defeat Ferguson's Bills in a 1974 divisional playoff game.
Terry Bradshaw