New Lions Hire Sent Strong Message From Ex-Coach After Leaving

The Detroit Lions coaching staff has received a facelift since their season ended last month. Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn left for head coaching jobs with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets and several other coaches have either followed them to their new jobs or have taken bigger opportunities with other teams.

The shuffling has left fans conflicted. On the one hand, these coaches helped the Lions go from a 3-13-1 team in 2021 to a franchise that went to the NFC Championship Game in 2023 and earned the top seed in the conference with a 15-2 record this season. On the other, fans feel conflicted, questioning the former coach's loyalty to Dan Campbell and the Lions organization.

The newest addition to the Lions’ staff went down earlier this week when they hired Bruce Gradkowski as an offensive assistant. While Gradkowski’s arrival will be another piece to the puzzle, his former head coach sent a strong message about his potential and his opportunity to coach in the NFL.

Anthony Becht Sends Strong Approval for New Lions Assistant Bruce Gradkowski

Gradkowski served as the offensive coordinator for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks the past two seasons and worked under head coach Anthony Becht. Becht praised Gradkowski for his work with the Battlehawks and sent a positive review as he headed to his new job in Detroit.

“He did a phenomenal job for our football team the last two seasons and was really an integral part of my success as a head coach,” Becht said. “As a head coach, the goal is to get the best coaching staff you can put together so you can have success. Not only for my success, but my players’ success and my staff’s success.”

Becht also highlighted Gradkowski’s path to Detroit, playing in the NFL for 11 seasons and working his way through the coaching ranks.

“Bruce absolutely deserves this opportunity,” Becht continued. “The goal in this league is to get every player on my team and every coach on my staff to the next level. If that’s the NFL, whatever that level is for them, that’s what I am genuinely happy for. And Bruce deserves this opportunity 1,000% and quite frankly, he’s going to kill it in Detroit. He’s going to rise up really quick and across the board, every guy on my staff is going to do the same thing.”

Gradkowski’s former boss is clearly high on his talents and also happy for his success. It may be a little different in the NFL, especially with Johnson heading to a division rival, but Campbell could feel the same way. The goal for the Lions is to rebuild the staff and the addition of Gradkowski is a positive step in that direction.

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