As NFL teams continue to round out their coaching staffs for the 2026 season, the Detroit Lions are doing everything they can to keep their coaching core intact - and that includes protecting one of their rising stars from being poached.
According to a report, the Miami Dolphins - now under the direction of new head coach Jeff Hafley - made a push to interview Lions offensive assistant Bruce Gradkowski for their open quarterbacks coach position. But Detroit wasn’t having it. The Lions blocked the request, exercising their right under league rules.
Now, at first glance, going from “offensive assistant” to “quarterbacks coach” sounds like a clear step up. But in the NFL’s coaching hierarchy, it’s not that simple.
The league classifies coaching jobs into three tiers: position coach, coordinator, and head coach. Since both “offensive assistant” and “quarterbacks coach” fall under the position coach umbrella, the move is considered lateral - and that gives teams the power to block it.
Still, it’s not often you see Lions head coach Dan Campbell take this kind of stance. He’s been vocal in the past about wanting to support the career advancement of his assistants.
So when Detroit does step in to keep someone from interviewing elsewhere, it usually says something about how highly they value that coach. And in Gradkowski’s case, the message is loud and clear: the Lions see something special.
Gradkowski’s path to this point has been anything but conventional. After a 10-year NFL career as a quarterback, he’s worked his way up the coaching ladder with stops at the high school level, his alma mater Toledo, and in the XFL/UFL with the St.
Louis Battlehawks. Along the way, he’s worn a lot of hats - assistant quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator, head coach, and now offensive assistant in Detroit.
Despite his quarterbacking background, Gradkowski spent last season working alongside running backs coach Scottie Montgomery to help guide the Lions’ receiving corps. It’s a testament to his versatility and willingness to grow in all areas of the offense - something that undoubtedly caught the attention of other teams around the league.
Detroit hasn’t finalized its full coaching staff for 2026 just yet, but all eyes will be on whether Gradkowski earns a more prominent role. Whether he sticks with the receivers or shifts back toward quarterbacks, it’s clear the Lions are invested in his development - and they’re not ready to let him go just yet.
In a league where coaching talent is as coveted as on-field production, keeping a promising mind like Gradkowski in-house could pay major dividends down the road.