In a recent development, the Detroit Lions have brought in former NFL quarterback Bruce Gradkowski as part of their 2025 coaching staff.
The news was first reported by Adam Schefter, revealing that Gradkowski has been hired as an offensive coaching assistant for the Lions. A veteran of 11 NFL seasons, Gradkowski entered the league as a sixth-round pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006. Throughout his career, he played for several teams and started 20 games, throwing for 4,057 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions on 375 completions out of 709 attempts.
For the last two seasons, Gradkowski has served as the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Battlehawks in both the XFL and UFL. In 2023, under his leadership, the Battlehawks finished second in scoring in the XFL with an average of 24.9 points per game. They maintained that strong offensive performance in 2024, staying second in the UFL with 26.0 points per game, just trailing the eventual champions, the Birmingham Stallions (26.5 PPG).
As of now, it’s unclear what exact position Gradkowski will hold with the Lions—whether it will be a general offensive assistant role or a more specific one. Notably, the Lions’ assistant quarterbacks coach position is open, following J.T. Barrett‘s departure to become the Chicago Bears‘ quarterbacks coach after Ben Johnson, the former Lions offensive coordinator, made the move to the Bears as well.
While there doesn’t appear to be a direct connection between Gradkowski and the Lions’ current coaching staff, it’s worth mentioning that he was briefly with the St. Louis Rams during their 2008 training camp, a time when Lions’ general manager Brad Holmes was a scout for the Rams.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow the latest updates on the Lions’ 2025 coaching staff.
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Three Detroit Lions Make 2025’s Top 100 Free Agent List
With the Detroit Lions’ season ending prematurely, they now face the task of evaluating expiring player contracts. Pro Football Focus (PFF) highlights three players they should prioritize keeping.
Carlton Davis III, Cornerback
Carlton Davis III ranked among the top 25 most valuable free agents. A former second-round pick, Davis joined the Lions in the offseason after spending time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first season with Detroit, Davis recorded 56 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 2 interceptions in just 13 games, as he missed time due to a fractured jaw sustained during a game against the Buffalo Bills.
Kevin Zeitler, Offensive Guard
Kevin Zeitler, ranked six spots below Davis III, is an appealing free agent. The veteran guard and former first-round pick had one of his best seasons with Detroit, finishing with a pass-block rate of 78.8% and a run-block rate of 87.2%. Though Zeitler is approaching the end of his career, he still provides considerable value to any team.
Levi Onwuzirke, Defensive Tackle
Levi Onwuzirke, ranked 40th on PFF’s list of most valuable free agents, has shown promise but struggled with injuries throughout his four seasons in Detroit. During the 2024 season, Onwuzirke posted 16 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. If he can stay healthy and have a breakout season, Onwuzirke could become an important contributor for any team.
