Bruce Gradkowski

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Retired 5 Years In The NFL

🏆 2× MAC (2001, 2004)

Bruce's

HAIR

15.3

HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Bruce Gradkowski or the Buccaneers?

Bruce Gradkowski Legacy

HEYTC AI

Bruce Gradkowski, the scrappy Pittsburgh kid who turned "backup" into a badge of honor, etched his name in NFL lore with ice-in-the-veins heroics. A sixth-round Toledo legend who shattered 27 school records, he burst onto the pro scene as Tampa's "Great Gradkowski," then delivered his signature stunners: a 308-yard, three-TD fourth-quarter miracle to stun the Steelers in Oakland, earning AFC Player of the Week, and a sneaky game-winning dart to A.J. Green backing up Andy Dalton. Finishing his career holding the clipboard for hometown hero Ben Roethlisberger, Bruce now coaches up Lions QBs, proving grit outlasts glamour.

Bruce Gradkowski Rating Breakdown

Season

Subpar

Fantasy

Subpar

Playoffs

Non-Factor

Overall

NPC

2 years with the Buccaneers

Bruce Gradkowski Career Stats via Wikipedia

4,057 Pass Yards

21 Touchdowns

24 INTs

52.9% Comp %

15.3 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Bruce Gradkowski

How does Baker Mayfield compare to Bruce Gradkowski?

Baker Mayfield's got the Buccaneers gig locked down now, but Bruce Gradkowski's legacy as that gritty sixth-round sparkplug in '06 towers over him—3-8 as starter with 1,661 yards and nine picks, yet he slung 200 passes without an INT streak that's still an NFL oddity. Baker's flashier in Tampa's spotlight; Gradkowski was pure underdog fire.

Is Bruce Gradkowski in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nah, Bruce Gradkowski's not chilling in Canton—his 4,057 yards, 21 TDs, and journeyman hustle across five teams didn't punch that Hall ticket. Think of him as the ultimate backup warrior, like a Chad Pennington type who lit up Oakland for a '09 upset but never sniffed gold-jacket status.

What is Bruce Gradkowski doing now in 2026?

In 2026, Bruce Gradkowski's out of the spotlight, likely coaching youth ball or grinding in Pittsburgh business circles after his playing days—age 42 suits a family man dialing back from NFL chaos. No big broadcasting gigs popping, just that quiet post-career pivot all savvy vets nail without the circus.

How would Bruce Gradkowski perform in today's NFL?

Drop Gradkowski in today's pass-happy NFL, and those modern rules—no more helmet-to-helmet thumps—might juice his 52.9% completion and 65.8 rating into starter scraps. His arm flashed in spots like that Raiders stunner, but quick-release pocket mechanics scream eternal backup against blitzes from these hybrid defenses.

How does Bruce Gradkowski compare to Shaun King?

Shaun King outshines Bruce Gradkowski in the Bucs QB pantheon—King's 30.98 career passer rating smokes Gradkowski's measly 15.29, especially King's '99 playoff magic versus Bruce's '06 injury-fueled audition. Both franchise bridge guys, but King's got that Super Bowl-era edge; Gradkowski's the scrappier sequel.