The Miami Dolphins’ effort to round out their offensive staff this offseason will not include a hire from the Detroit Lions.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that the Lions received a request from the Dolphins to interview offensive assistant and former NFL quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. Schultz adds that the Dolphins considered Gradkowski for their quarterbacks coach position.
Gradkowski joined the Lions’ staff in 2025 after serving as offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Battlehawks over the previous two seasons — first in the XFL, then in the UFL. During his stint, the Battlehawks finished second in points scored in each league.
Under NFL rules, teams may deny permission for lateral moves but cannot block interviews for bona fide promotions.
The Lions have yet to announce their coaching staff for the 2026 season. Because of that, it’s possible the reason the Lions blocked the Dolphins’ request to interview Gradkowski is due to the former player receiving elevated responsibility on the staff.
Last year, the Lions announced their 2025 coaching staff about a week before the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. This year’s combine takes place during the last week of February. An announcement of their 2026 staff could happen later this week or early next week.
After his 10-year NFL career ended following the 2016 season, Gradkowski moved into coaching in 2017 and volunteered as an assistant quarterbacks coach at Anthony Wayne High School in Toledo, Ohio (2017-2018). In 2021, he became the head coach at St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo.
The following year, he joined the University of Toledo as an offensive analyst. Though he worked as an analyst in 2022, his role supported the program’s ongoing success rather than its 2001 and 2004 MAC championships.
A sixth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006 — where he played his first two NFL seasons — Gradkowski also had stints with the St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers.