The Miami Dolphins have already diagnosed some already highly important needs in their coaching staff. They have already hired new head coach Jeff Hafley and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. Still, they are looking to flesh out key pieces of their offensive staff, specifically the quarterbacks coach job. However, they just took a massive hit in their pursuit.
According to several reports, the Miami Dolphins have been denied a request to interview Detroit Lions offensive assistant Bruce Gradkowski. This usually happens if teams believe that the position the staff member will be interviewing for is not considered a promotion. Because offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach are considered lateral moves, the Lions were able to intervene in the interviewing process.
Detroit Blocks Miami’s Attempt to Bolster Offensive Staff
Gradkowski had previously spent a decade of his time as a quarterback in the NFL and just joined the Lions coaching staff last year. He had spent time coaching in the college ranks, taking a job at Toledo, before making the jump to the XFL/UFL levels with the St. Louis Battlehawks.
It’s also important to note that Gradkowski did assist wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery last year trying to flesh out his resume. It is unclear though whether or not Gradkowski would be named to an elevated role when the Lions release their full 2026 coaching staff or if he will remain in an assistant role.
For the Dolphins, this whole process comes after they had initially hired former Denver Broncos head coach and New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. However, after just a week, he had left to take upon the role of offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals.
Quarterback Questions Loom Large in Miami
The potential reason why Gradkowsi could have been desirable for the Dolphins is his journeyman career throughout the NFL. In his time as an NFL quarterback, Gradkowski had stints with multiple teams. A sixth round pick of the Bucs in 2006, he had stints with the St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Dolphins may have believed that someone with Gradkowski’s NFL experience could help bolster a QB room that does not look promising. It seems as if Tua is headed out which would leave 2025 seventh round pick Quinn Ewers as the only guy that could potentially fill the starting role on the current roster.
Still, rumors have swirled that the Dolphins could be able to get a cost-effective deal for one of the quarterbacks in the free agent market. Some names include Malik Willis, whose career resurgence with the Packers and familiarity with both Hafley and Sullivan won’t go unnoticed, and Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who helped the Falcons to a solid finish this year.
While the interview denial will sting for the Dolphins, perhaps acquiring a quarterback will help in the hiring process. For Gradkowski, perhaps maintaining his status as one of the up and coming assistants in the NFL could parlay into a future position down the line.
Â
Christopher Sheppard Christopher Sheppard is a passionate and knowledgeable sports journalist based in Englewood, NJ pursuing a role in the sports media industry. He covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, focusing on the Dolphins, Chargers, and Buccanneers. More about Christopher Sheppard
More Heavy on Dolphins
Loading more stories