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Dan Campbell and the Lions have blocked the Dolphins’ request to interview offensive assistant Bruce Gradkowski
The Detroit Lions have been busy retooling their coaching staff early on this offseason. After failing to qualify for the playoffs in 2025, head coach Dan Campbell has made changes to his coaching staff, with the hope being that this new group will help his team achieve better results next season.
Things are still coming together for Campbell, but it appears as if he has a good sense of who he wants to be on his coaching staff. With that in mind, Campbell ended up rejecting an interview request from the Miami Dolphins, as they were interested in speaking to Lions’ offensive assistant Bruce Gradkowski about their quarterbacks coach opening.
Lions Deny Interview Request for Bruce Gradkowski
Sources: The #Dolphins requested to interview #Lions offensive assistant and former NFL QB Bruce Gradkowski for their QBs coach position, but Detroit blocked the request.
Gradkowski had a ton of success as an OC in the XFL with St. Louis — and seems to be valued in Detroit as a
After losing both his offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, and defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, to head coach jobs last offseason, Campbell had his work cut out for him in 2025. He ultimately hired John Morton to be his offensive coordinator, but he only lasted one season before getting replaced. Kelvin Sheppard, meanwhile, was his defensive coordinator, and he will remain a key piece of Campbell’s staff moving forward.
Campbell ended up hiring former Arizona Cardinals‘ offensive coordinator Drew Petzing to replace Morton, but he also made several moves to bring in new assistants on both sides of the ball. One guy he appears intent on hanging onto is Gradkowski, a former NFL quarterback who is quickly rising through the coaching ranks.
After serving as the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Blackhawks in the XFL for two years, Gradkowski found his way to the Lions in 2025, working as an offensive assistant. Teams across the league have taken note of his work, as the Dolphins wanted to interview him for their quarterbacks coach role. Campbell didn’t allow that to happen, though, as he denied their interview request for Gradkowski.
“Sources: The Dolphins requested to interview Lions offensive assistant and former NFL QB Bruce Gradkowski for their QBs coach position, but Detroit blocked the request,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported in a post on X. “Gradkowski had a ton of success as an OC in the XFL with St. Louis — and seems to be valued in Detroit as a rising coach in their building.”
Bruce Gradkowski Set for Bigger Role with Lions
GettyDan Campbell and the Lions have blocked the Dolphins’ request to interview offensive assistant Bruce Gradkowski
The Lions’ decision to deny this interview request is a bit surprising, as coaches are usually in favor of allowing guys on their staff to explore new opportunities with different teams. Gradkowski seems to be a unique case, though, as his work with Detroit in 2025 likely has earned him a bigger role on Campbell’s staff.
What that could end up being is unknown, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Gradkowski have more responsibilities on his plate in 2026 if Campbell doesn’t even want to entertain the idea of him leaving town. If Gradkowski wasn’t on the radar of other teams yet, he likely will be after this move, and it will be interesting to see what he ends up doing for Detroit next season.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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