DETROIT – Bruce Gradkowski knows a thing or two about developing and contributing in the NFL.
A quarterback for 11 seasons on six teams, the 42-year-old has turned to coaching, eager to continue his journey as an offensive assistant for the Lions with a team of stars keen to soak in his experience.
“Anything you want to do at a significant level is going to take some time and effort and sacrifice,” Gradkowski said. But that only scratches the surfaces of his winding road through all levels of the sport.
A college standout at the University of Toledo, Gradkowski went on to start 20 games between 2006-2010 for the Buccaneers, Browns and Raiders.
Then the real test began.
Since retirement, Gradkowski has coached high school football at Anthony Wayne and St. Francis in northwest Ohio, returned to don a headset at his collegiate alma mater and called plays in the XFL for the St. Louis Battlehawks before one phone call brought everything full circle in the pros.
“I’ve watched [the Lions] over the years because as I was calling an offense, I wanted to do similar things,” Gradkowski recalled. “Out of the blue, Coach called me—and you know how Verizon sometimes says ‘Campbell, Daniel J.’ or something? I was like, ‘is this really him?’ So I answered and it was Coach!
Gradkowski credits Campbell and new offensive coordinator John Morton for the opportunity, but admits none of this is possible without inspiration from his wife Miranda and their three kids.
“When I finished playing, we started having kids with Lily, Roman, and Lincoln,” Gradkowski added. “That sparked something inside of me. I’ve always had a passion to help guys on their journey.”
Gradkowski is joined on Detroit’s staff by former Raiders and Jets quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo. Even MVP candidates well on their way appreciate new perspectives.
“I like to be able to bounce things off of them, how they did things, how they saw things, certain plays that I’m not sure how I want to read,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said at training camp. “They can give me good insight on how they did it in the past.”
Now the lifelong QB is throwing himself into a new challenge: coaching up and learning from wide receivers on the league’s highest scoring offense.
“You’ve got the best players on the team in [Amon-Ra] St. Brown and Jameson Williams in that receiver room and they’re the hardest workers on the team. To actually be in the room and understand what they’re going through and what’s all on their plate is a blessing.”
A blessing.
That’s how Gradkowski sees everything on and off the field in this season of life.
“I have such a passion to continue to learn not just X’s and O’s, but leadership. To be around a head coach that’s a great leader as well is a true blessing.”