View source for Bruce Gradkowski

{{Short description|American football player (born 1983)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name         = Bruce Gradkowski
| image        = Bruce Gradkowski (2012) (cropped).jpg
| caption      = Gradkowski in 2012
| number       =
| position     = Offensive assistant
| current_team = Detroit Lions
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1983|1|27}}
| birth_place  = [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| height_ft    = 6
| height_in    = 1
| weight_lbs   = 217
| high_school  = [[Seton-La Salle Catholic High School|Seton-La Salle Catholic]]<br />([[Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania]])
| college      = [[Toledo Rockets football|Toledo]] (2001{{ndash}}2005)
| draftyear    = 2006
| draftround   = 6
| draftpick    = 194
| pastteams    = * [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] ({{NFL Year|2006|2007}})
* [[St. Louis Rams]] ({{NFL Year|2008}})*
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|2008}})
* [[Oakland Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|2009|2010}})
* [[Cincinnati Bengals]] ({{NFL Year|2011|2012}})
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|2013|2016}})
| pastcoaching = * [[Anthony Wayne High School|Anthony Wayne HS]] (2017–2018)<br>Volunteer assistant quarterbacks coach
* [[St. Francis de Sales School (Toledo, Ohio)|St. Francis de Sales HS]] (2021)<br>Head coach
* [[Toledo Rockets football|Toledo]] (2022)<br>Offensive analyst
* [[St. Louis BattleHawks]] ({{XFL Year|2023}}–{{UFL Year|2024}})<br>Offensive coordinator
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)<br>Offensive assistant
| status       = 
| highlights   = * 2× [[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] ([[2001 MAC Championship Game|2001]], [[2004 MAC Championship Game|2004]])
* [[Vern Smith Leadership Award|MAC Co-Most Valuable Player]] (2005)
* [[GMAC Bowl]] MVP ([[2005 GMAC Bowl|2005]])
* Toledo Hall of Fame (2012)
| statlabel1   = Pass attempts / completions
| statvalue1   = 709 / 375
| statlabel2   = Completion percentage
| statvalue2   = 52.9
| statlabel3   = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue3   = 21–24
| statlabel4   = [[Passing yards]]
| statvalue4   = 4,057
| statlabel5   = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue5   = 65.8
| statlabel6   = [[Rushing yards]]
| statvalue6   = 331
| pfr          = GradBr00 
}}

'''Bruce Raymond Gradkowski''' (born January 27, 1983) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] [[quarterback]] and coach who currently serves as an offensive assistant for the [[Detroit Lions]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the [[St. Louis BattleHawks]] of the [[United Football League (2024)|United Football League]] (UFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Toledo Rockets football|Toledo Rockets]]. He was selected by the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] in the sixth round of the [[2006 NFL draft]]. Gradkowski was also a member of the [[St. Louis Rams]], [[Cleveland Browns]], [[Oakland Raiders]], [[Cincinnati Bengals]], and [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]. His younger brother, [[Gino Gradkowski|Gino]], is a former NFL center.

==Early life==
Gradkowski is a 2001 graduate from [[Seton-La Salle Catholic High School]]. He played as a member of the Seton-La Salle Rebels from 1997 to 2000 in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League ([[Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League|WPIAL]]). As a [[Eleventh grade|junior]], Gradkowski threw for 1,630 yards and 10 touchdowns. This performance was then improved as a [[Twelfth grade|senior]], when he completed 188-of-327 passes (57.5%) and threw for a then-[[Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League|WPIAL]] record of 2,978 yards and 30 touchdowns (surpassing the previous mark set by [[Dan Marino]]). In high school, Gradkowski also played [[High school basketball|basketball]], serving as Seton-La Salle's starting [[point guard]] and leading his team in scoring.

==College career==
After [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirting]] as a freshman at [[University of Toledo|Toledo]] in 2001, Gradkowski only saw action as the [[field goal]] holder on the special teams unit. In 2003, he became the starting quarterback as a sophomore and set a [[Mid-American Conference]] season record by completing 71.2% of his passes. He threw for 3,210 yards and set a school season record of 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Gradkowski's final passer rating was 161.53. He proved he could scramble by rushing for 504 yards and one touchdown on 91 carries (5.5 avg). In 2004, Gradkowski completed 70.2% of his passes for 3,518 yards with 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions and a final passer rating of 162.56. He played in the [[GMAC Bowl]] and was named the game's Most Valuable Player (MVP).  As a senior in 2005, Gradkowski completed 62.3% of his passes for 2,469 yards with 29 touchdowns and twelve interceptions and a final passer rating of 146.42. Gradkowski was the first quarterback in NCAA Division I-A history to complete more than 70 percent of his passes in consecutive seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/sports/football/roster/bruce-gradkowski/2216|title=Bruce Gradkowski – Football}}</ref>

===College statistics===
{| class="wikitable sortable;" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! colspan="16" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Toledo Rockets}}"  | Toledo Rockets
|-
! rowspan="2"| Season
! colspan="10"| Passing
|-
! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Int !! Sck !! Rtg
|-
! [[2003 Toledo Rockets football team|2003]]
| 277 || 389 || 71.2 || 3,210 || 8.3 || 66 || 29 || 7 || 9 || 161.5
|-
! [[2004 Toledo Rockets football team|2004]]
| 280 || 399 || 70.2 || 3,518 || 8.8 || 96 || 27 || 8 ||14 || 162.6
|-
! [[2005 Toledo Rockets football team|2005]]
| 207 || 332 || 62.3 || 2,469 || 7.4 || 70 || 29 || 12 || 9 || 146.4
|-
! [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/bruce-gradkowski-1.html Career]!! 764 !! 1,120 !! 68.2 !! 9,197 !! 8.2 !! 96 !! 85 !! 27 !! 34 !! 156.8
|}

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 1 3/8
|       weight = 217
|         dash = 4.61
|    ten split = 1.63
| twenty split = 2.72
|      shuttle = 4.16
|   cone drill = 7.12
|     vertical = 34
|     broad ft = 8
|     broad in = 11
|     arm span = 30 1/4
|    hand span = 9
|    wonderlic = 19<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wonderlictestsample.com/nfl-wonderlic-scores/ |title=Historical NFL Wonderlic Scores |website=wonderlictestsample.com |access-date=September 2, 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902201337/http://wonderlictestsample.com/nfl-wonderlic-scores/ |archive-date=September 2, 2016}}</ref>
|         note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/bruce-gradkowski/32004752-4106-8015-f3fb-607c5b7c49e3 |title=Bruce Gradkowski Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=October 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=14007&DraftYear=2006 |title=Bruce Gradkowski, Toledo, QB, 2006 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |publisher=draftscout.com |access-date=September 2, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=7372 |title=Bruce Gradkowski, Combine Results, QB – Toledo |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=October 19, 2021}}</ref>
}}

===Tampa Bay Buccaneers===
The [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] selected Gradkowski in the sixth round (194th overall) of the [[2006 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2006/draft.htm |title=2006 NFL Draft Listing |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref>

After a promising preseason he was nicknamed "The Great Gradkowski". When starting quarterback [[Chris Simms]] suffered a [[ruptured spleen]], Gradkowski was named the starter going into Week 5 against [[New Orleans Saints|New Orleans]]. In his debut, he completed 20 of 31 attempts for 225 yards with two touchdowns as the Buccaneers suffered their fourth consecutive loss.

Gradkowski remained the starter after his first loss and won the next two games against the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] and [[Philadelphia Eagles]] before losing three straight to the [[New York Giants]], [[New Orleans Saints]] and [[Carolina Panthers]]. On November 19, 2006, he completed 14 of 21 attempts for 178 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in a 20–17 victory over the [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]].

On [[Thanksgiving]], the Buccaneers would lose to the [[Dallas Cowboys]] after Gradkowski threw two interceptions and only completed 10 passes. He continued to falter the following week throwing three interceptions in a loss to his hometown [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]. His play would continue to decline with losses against the [[Atlanta Falcons]] and [[Chicago Bears]] and he was benched in the middle of both games. Gradkowski was replaced in the second quarter against Chicago by [[Tim Rattay]], who threw for four touchdowns in the second half of the game. Gradkowski, by contrast, had not thrown a touchdown in the previous 10 quarters before being pulled and would not start again in 2006. He finished his rookie season with 1,661 passing yards on 177 completions in 328 pass attempts, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/brucegradkowski/2495838/profile |title=NFL Player Profile:Bruce Gradkowski |access-date=October 17, 2016 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>

In 2007 during a Week 12 matchup against the Washington Redskins, Gradkowski came in after the first play because of an injury to newly acquired starting quarterback [[Jeff Garcia]] but only completed 9 of 19 passes and didn't score. Gradkowski was benched the next week in favor of [[Luke McCown]].

Gradkowski had a record of 3–8 as a Tampa Bay starter and set an NFL record by throwing 200 passes between his first and second interceptions.<ref>{{cite web |last=Brandt |first=Gil |date=November 8, 2006 |title=Week 10 fantasy matchups |url=http://nfl.com/fantasy/story/9787771 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109114706/http://nfl.com/fantasy/story/9787771 |archive-date=November 9, 2006 |website=[[NFL.com]]}}</ref>

On May 30, 2008, Gradkowski was [[Waivers (American football)|waived]] by the Buccaneers.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.pewterreport.com/bucs-sign-te-stevens-cut-qb-gradkowski/|title = Bucs Sign TE Stevens, Cut QB Gradkowski|date = May 30, 2008|access-date = July 14, 2021|archive-date = July 14, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210714152716/https://www.pewterreport.com/bucs-sign-te-stevens-cut-qb-gradkowski/|url-status = dead}}</ref>

===St. Louis Rams===
Gradkowski was claimed off waivers by the [[St. Louis Rams]] in June 2008,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d808aec82/article/rams-add-gradkowski-to-mix-of-quarterbacks-behind-bulger |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222114434/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d808aec82/article/rams-add-gradkowski-to-mix-of-quarterbacks-behind-bulger |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |title=Rams add Gradkowski to mix of quarterbacks behind Bulger |date=July 26, 2012 |website=NFL.com |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> but was waived during final cuts on August 30, 2008.

===Cleveland Browns===
Gradkowski was signed by the [[Cleveland Browns]] as their [[fourth-string]] quarterback on December 2, 2008, after [[quarterback]] [[Derek Anderson (American football)|Derek Anderson]] was placed on [[injured reserve]]. He was the starter for the Browns' [[2008 Cleveland Browns season|2008 season]] finale against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] on December 28, 2008, after injuries to Anderson, [[Brady Quinn]], and [[Ken Dorsey]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/12/24/browns.gradkowski.ap/index.html |title=Bruce Gradkowski to Start Finale for Browns v. Steelers |date=December 25, 2008 |website=SI.com |url-status=dead |access-date=December 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204061246/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/12/24/browns.gradkowski.ap/index.html |archive-date=February 4, 2009 }}</ref> Gradkowski was waived on February 9, 2009.

===Oakland Raiders===
[[File:Bruce Gradkowski (2010).jpg|thumb|200px|Gradkowski in 2010]]
A day after being waived by the Browns, Gradkowski was claimed off waivers by the [[Oakland Raiders]].

On November 22, 2009, in his first start for the Raiders, Gradkowski threw two touchdowns, matching former Raiders quarterback [[JaMarcus Russell]]'s total for the season to that point, and led the team to come from behind 20–17 victory over the heavily favored Cincinnati Bengals.

In Week 13, on the road the Raiders beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27–24. Gradkowski completed 20-of-33 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns, including an 11-yard game-winning touchdown to [[Louis Murphy]]. For his performance in this game he was awarded the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award for week 13 of the regular season.<ref>{{cite web |last=Corman |first=Rebecca |url=http://www.raiders.com/news/article-1/Gradkowski-Named-AFC-Offensive-Player-of-the-Week/cad17ffc-1e1a-419c-95c3-db2ef5d85f61 |title=Gradkowski Named AFC Offensive Player of the Week |publisher=Raiders.com |date=December 8, 2009 |access-date=August 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213005406/http://www.raiders.com/news/article-1/Gradkowski-Named-AFC-Offensive-Player-of-the-Week/cad17ffc-1e1a-419c-95c3-db2ef5d85f61 |archive-date=December 13, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Wilson-Gradkowski-named-AFC-Offensive-Player-of-the-Week.html |title=Wilson: Gradkowski named AFC Player of the Week |publisher=National Football Post |date=December 9, 2009 |access-date=August 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023071445/http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Wilson-Gradkowski-named-AFC-Offensive-Player-of-the-Week.html |archive-date=October 23, 2010 }}</ref>

On December 13, 2009, he was injured in a game against the Washington Redskins during the second quarter and was replaced by Russell. The Raiders lost the game 34–13 without Gradowski.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=291213013 |title=Redskins vs. Raiders – Box Score – December 13, 2009 – ESPN}}</ref> Gradkowski missed the remainder of the 2009 season with a partially torn [[Medial collateral ligament]]s in both knees.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/14000/report-gradkowski-could-miss-final-three-games |title=Gradkowski likely to miss season |last=Williamson |first=Bill |date=December 13, 2009 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref>

On March 15, 2010, he was re-signed by the Oakland Raiders for one year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sbreport.net/raider_news/008/3006.html |title=Oakland Raiders NFL Football |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626002700/http://www.sbreport.net/raider_news/008/3006.html |archive-date=June 26, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He tore a [[pectoral muscle]] while lifting weights in April 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/04/15/bruce-gradkowski-tears-pectoral-muscle/ |title=Bruce Gradkowski tears pectoral muscle |last=Rosenthal |first=Gregg |date=April 15, 2010 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> In Week 2 of the 2010 NFL season he took over for benched starter [[Jason Campbell]] and led the Raiders to a victory over the [[St. Louis Rams]].

On September 22, 2010, Gradkowski became the Oakland Raiders starting quarterback for Week 3.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/gradkowski-wrests-raiders-starting-qb-job-from-campbell-09000d5d81abf339 |title=Gradkowski wrests Raiders' starting QB job from Campbell |website=NFL.com |language=en |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> On November 28, 2010, Gradkowski suffered a third-degree [[Separated shoulder|separation]] of his throwing shoulder. On December 2, the Raiders placed Gradkowski on injured reserve, ending his [[2010 Oakland Raiders season|2010 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5876604 |title=Raiders place Gradkowski on IR after surgery |date=December 2, 2010 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref>

===Cincinnati Bengals===
Following the [[2011 NFL lockout]], Gradkowski signed a two-year contract with the [[Cincinnati Bengals]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jay Gruden: Bruce Gradkowski is "the ultimate competitor" |url=http://stripehype.com/2011/07/28/bengals-offensive-coordinator-jay-gruden-reacts-to-bruce-gradkowski-signing/ |work=Stripehype.com|date=July 28, 2011 }}</ref> He was the team's second-string quarterback behind [[Andy Dalton (American football)|Andy Dalton]]. After Dalton suffered a minor injury that removed him from the game, Gradkowski threw a touchdown while snapping the ball while the Browns were still in the [[huddle]]. He then appeared during a Week 13 match up against the Pittsburgh Steelers, completing 3-of-6 passes for 17 yards with one [[interception]].

===Pittsburgh Steelers===
[[File:Bruce Gradkowski 2013.jpg|thumb|Gradkowski in 2013]]
On March 13, 2013, Gradkowski signed a three-year deal with his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.<ref>{{cite news |work=NBCSports.com |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/13/gradkowski-agrees-to-three-year-deal-with-steelers/ |title=Gradkowski agrees to three-year deal with Steelers |first=Darin |last=Gantt |date=March 13, 2013 |access-date=June 16, 2014}}</ref>

Ultimately, Gradkowski had very few career snaps with the Steelers. He played in none of the regular season games during [[2013 Pittsburgh Steelers season|2013]]. In [[2014 Pittsburgh Steelers season|2014]], he  played in one game. He missed almost the entire [[2015 Pittsburgh Steelers season|2015 season]] due to hand and shoulder injuries.<ref name="usatoday.com">Chester, Simon A. (October 7, 2016 {{Cite web |url=http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2016/10/08/steelers-release-quarterback-bruce-gradkowski/ |title=Steelers release quarterback Bruce Gradkowski |last=Chester |first=Simon A. |date=October 8, 2016 |publisher=USA Today Sports Digital Properties}}</ref>

The Steelers re-signed Gradkowski to a one-year contract on May 2, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |work=NFL.com |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/steelers-re-sign-veteran-backup-qb-bruce-gradkowski-0ap3000000659300 |title=Steelers re-sign veteran backup QB Bruce Gradkowski |first=Chris |last=Wesseling |date=May 2, 2016 |access-date=May 3, 2016}}</ref> On August 31, 2016, Gradkowski was placed on the injured reserve list following damage to his [[hamstring]] sustained during the opening game of the preseason.<ref name="usatoday.com" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000693048/article/steelers-claim-zach-mettenberger-off-waivers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902145206/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000693048/article/steelers-claim-zach-mettenberger-off-waivers |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 2, 2016 |title=Steelers claim Mettenberger, put Gradkowski on IR |last=Bergman |first=Jeremy |website=NFL.com |access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> The Steelers released Gradkowski on October 7, 2016.<ref name="usatoday.com" />

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
! rowspan="2"| Fum
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] !! [[2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]
| 13 || 11 || 177 || 328 || 54.0 || 1,661 || 5.1 || 9 || 9 || 65.9 || 41 || 161 || 3.9 || 0 || 11
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] !! [[2007 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]
| 4 || 0 || 13 || 24 || 54.2 || 130 || 5.4 || 0 || 1 || 52.4 || 7 || 20 || 2.9 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Cleveland Browns season|CLE]]
|2 || 1 || 7 || 21 || 33.3 || 26 || 1.2 || 0 || 3 || 2.8 || 1 || 2 || 2.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 7 || 4 || 82 || 150 || 54.7 || 1,007 || 6.7 || 6 || 3 || 80.6 || 18 || 108 || 6.0 || 0 || 5
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 6 || 4 || 83 || 157 || 52.9 || 1,059 || 6.7 || 5 || 7 || 66.3 || 12 || 41 || 3.4 || 0 || 3
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
| 2 || 0 || 8 || 18 || 44.4 || 109 || 6.1 || 1 || 1 || 59.7 || 11 || 29 || 2.6 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2012 NFL season|2012]] !! [[2012 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
| 2 || 0 || 5 || 11 || 45.5 || 65 || 5.9 || 0 || 0 || 64.6 || 4 || −2 || −0.5 || 0 || 1
|-
! [[2013 NFL season|2013]] !! [[2013 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 0 || 0 || colspan="13"| {{abbr|DNP|Did not play}}
|-
! [[2014 NFL season|2014]] !! [[2014 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 2 || −2 || −1.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 37 !! 20 !! 375 !! 709 !! 52.9 !! 4,057 !! 5.7 !! 21 !! 24 !! 65.8 !! 88 !! 329 !! 3.7 !! 0 !! 20
|}

== Coaching career ==
In 2017, Gradkowski became a volunteer assistant quarterbacks coach at [[Anthony Wayne High School]] in [[Whitehouse, Ohio]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Briggs |first=David |date=August 11, 2017 |title=Bruce Gradkowski is back in school, and kids and coaches love it |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/08/11/toledo-bruce-gradkowski-anthony-wayne-coaching-staff-pittsburgh-steelers/stories/201708110105 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171110235730/http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/08/11/toledo-bruce-gradkowski-anthony-wayne-coaching-staff-pittsburgh-steelers/stories/201708110105 |archive-date=November 10, 2017 |access-date=November 10, 2017 |publisher=post-gazette.com}}</ref>

On June 15, 2021, it was reported he would be the head coach at [[St. Francis de Sales School (Toledo, Ohio)]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Strack |first1=Jordan |date=June 15, 2021 |title=Former Toledo QB Bruce Gradkowski will be new head football coach at St. Francis |url=https://www.wtol.com/article/sports/high-school/hs-football/former-toledo-qb-bruce-gradkowski-will-be-new-head-football-coach-at-st-francis/512-0a86c411-04f9-44af-81b3-fb03a9a76dcd |access-date=June 15, 2021 |website=WTOL}}</ref> After serving as interim coach for one football season (2021) at St. Francis de Sales School, Bruce was to become the permanent head football coach at St. Francis de Sales for the 2022 season.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 18, 2022 |title=NBC 24 News |url=https://nbc24.com/newsletter-daily/bruce-gradkowski-permanently-becomes-head-football-coach-at-st-francis-de-sales |access-date=January 19, 2022 |website=nbc24.com}}</ref>  However, Gradkowski was officially hired by the [[St. Louis BattleHawks]] on September 13, 2022, as their Offensive Coordinator.<ref>{{Cite web |title=XFL Finalizes Coaching and Football Operations Staffs for All Eight Teams |url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/xfl-finalizes-coaching-and-football-operations-staffs-for-all-eight-teams |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=www.xfl.com |language=en}}</ref>

On February 6, 2025, the [[Detroit Lions]] hired Gradkowski as an offensive assistant.<ref>{{cite web | last=Alper | first=Josh | title=Lions to hire Bruce Gradkowski as an offensive assistant | website=NBC Sports | date=2025-02-06 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/lions-to-hire-bruce-gradkowski-as-an-offensive-assistant | access-date=2025-03-16}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Gradkowski was the owner of Social Gastropub in [[Perrysburg, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.socialgastropub.com/about | title=Social Gastropub – About Us | website=socialgastropub.com |access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref> The restaurant was officially closed due to fire in June 2022.<ref name="s845">{{cite web | title=Perrysburg's Social gastropub fire still under investigation, no cause yet determined | website=WTOL Newsroom| date=2022-06-23 | url=https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/perrysburgs-social-gastropub-on-fire-thursday-afternoon/512-00c32587-c4ff-45f0-b6ea-9f6c080d33ac | access-date=2024-12-24}}</ref>

Gradkowski joined the University of Toledo's Rocket Football Radio Network as a [[color analyst]].<ref>{{cite web |date=August 11, 2017 |title=Bruce Gradkowski to Join Rocket Football Radio Network Team |url=http://utrockets.com/news/2017/8/11/bruce-gradkowski-to-join-rocket-football-radio-network-team.aspx |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110235103/http://utrockets.com/news/2017/8/11/bruce-gradkowski-to-join-rocket-football-radio-network-team.aspx |archive-date=November 10, 2017 |access-date=November 10, 2017 |publisher=utrockets.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.bruce-gradkowski.com/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100922042528/http://www.nfl.com/players/brucegradkowski/profile?id=GRA068015 Profile at NFL.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140603220156/http://www.steelers.com/team/roster/Bruce-Gradkowski/4824ad25-e658-4fdc-b974-1b151272e355 Pittsburgh Steelers profile] 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090928235938/http://www.raiders.com/team/roster/Bruce-Gradkowski/ae4bb59f-b605-4a1e-8fd9-56f6f3af6bb5 Oakland Raiders profile] 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151223034729/http://www.utrockets.com/news/2013/1/30/Bruce_Gradkowski_Football_2001_2005_.aspx Cincinnati Bengals profile]
* {{Footballstats |nfl=2495838 |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=G/GradBr00 |rotoworld= }}

{{Toledo Rockets quarterback navbox}}
{{Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Cleveland Browns starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Oakland Raiders starting quarterback navbox}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gradkowski, Bruce}}
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:American radio sports announcers]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bengals players]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns players]]
[[Category:College football announcers]]
[[Category:High school football coaches in Ohio]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:St. Louis Battlehawks coaches]]
[[Category:St. Louis Rams players]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players]]
[[Category:Toledo Rockets football coaches]]
[[Category:Toledo Rockets football players]]