Rob Gronkowski Agrees to Return to the NFL to Play for Tampa Bay With Tom Brady

Rob Gronkowski, currently retired from the New England Patriots, has agreed to return to the NFL as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as part of a trade.
Rob Gronkowski Agrees to Return to the NFL to Play for Tampa Bay With Tom Brady
Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots speaks to the press during the New England Patriots Media Availability for Super Bowl LII at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., on Feb. 1, 2018. (Elsa/Getty Images)
4/21/2020
Updated:
4/21/2020

Tight end Rob Gronkowski, who is currently retired from the New England Patriots, has agreed to return to the NFL as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as part of a trade, according to Gronkowski’s agent.

“Pending the physical, Rob has agreed to play for Tampa this season,” agent Drew Rosenhaus told CNN. “He will honor his current contract at this time.”

Gronkowski has one year left on his current contract, which is worth $10 million.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport both report that the terms of the proposed trade will see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers get Rob Gronkowski and a 7th-round pick from the Patriots in exchange for a 4th-round pick from the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay declined to comment on the trade. New England has not responded to CNN’s inquiry.

The trade would reunite Gronkowski with quarterback Tom Brady, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent on March 20th after 20 seasons with New England.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady walks on the field before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Tennessee Titans, in Foxborough, Mass., on Jan. 4, 2020. (Charles Krupa/AP Photo)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady walks on the field before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Tennessee Titans, in Foxborough, Mass., on Jan. 4, 2020. (Charles Krupa/AP Photo)

Gronkowski played nine seasons for the Patriots alongside Brady. The duo were teammates on 3 Super Bowl champion teams in the 2014, 2016, and 2018 seasons, though Gronkowski missed the 2016 Super Bowl due to injury.

Gronkowski last played during the 2018 NFL season, where he finished with 682 receiving yards and three touchdowns across 13 regular season games.

His final game as a member of the Patriots was in Super Bowl LIII where the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3.
The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.