Rutgers Football is set to hire Gino Gradkowski, a former NFL center who won Super Bowl XLVII with the Baltimore Ravens, to its coaching staff as an assistant offensive line coach. The 37-year-old played a total of six seasons in the NFL, where he played in 60 games, starting 20, before he moved on to coaching.
As a coach, Gradkowski has spent the last four years at DIII Rowan, serving as the Profs’ offensive coordinator in 2024 and 2025. His other experience at the college level includes three years serving as Delaware’s,
his alma mater, assistant director of student services for athletes. He served as Rowan’s offensive line coach in 2022 and 2023 before being promoted under new head coach Pat Ruley.
In 2025, Gradkowski helped lead Rowan back to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Gradkowski also has experience coaching in the UFL, as he was the offensive line coach for the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2024. Current Rutgers offensive line coach Jim Turner was serving as the UFL’s Memphis Showboats offensive line coach that season.
Gradkowski’s NFL experience includes being selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Ravens. They won the Super Bowl that year, with Gradkowski playing in 16 games. Following the retirement of starting center Matt Birk, Gradkowski assumed the starting role in 2013.
In 2015, he was traded to the Denver Broncos in April following three seasons in Baltimore. He was waived before the season. Gradkowski then spent the 2015 season with the Atlanta Falcons before signing a three-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. Following the 2016 season, after being placed on injury reserve, he was released.
Gradkowski closed his playing career by playing seven games for the Broncos in 2018.
He will replace Alex Officer on the Knights staff as Officer is set to take on a role with the Ravens.
