While Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement from football years ago on social media, he made it official as a member of the New England Patriots on Wednesday.
Owner Robert Kraft wanted to take advantage of the opportunity, and he humorously asked Gronkowski about making the one-day ceremonial contract a day longer. That would allow Gronkowski to suit up one more time and play for the Patriots on Thursday when the 8–2 team faces the New York Jets (2–7).
Kraft, who has been the Patriots’ owner since 1994, could only smile regarding the former star tight end who helped the team win two Super Bowls. Gronkowski has long been known for his humor, which has continued through his career amid commercial ventures and broadcasting.
“Nothing’s changed,” Kraft said.
Gronkowski played for the Patriots from 2010 to 2018 after the team took him with a second-round draft pick out of Arizona. He fell on the draft board due to injury in college, and battled through injuries throughout his NFL career, but it didn’t slow him down.
“His clutch performances were legendary, and his larger-than-life personality and connections with the fans has truly made him a New England icon,” Kraft said.
Gronkowski retired in 2019 after not playing that season due to injury, but he returned in 2020 to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He teamed up with former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for a second time in their careers and won another Super Bowl together.
“If you put one, just put me in the end zone and be tiny because Tom’s one of a kind,” he said.
Gronkowski retired after the 2021 season after multiple injuries that year. Despite finishing his career in Tampa, Gronkowski maintained ties to the Boston area, and his official Patriots retirement had a connection to off-field charity work.
Gronkowski once worked with former Patriots cheerleader Susan Hurley for local charity causes. Hurley, who passed away from cancer in November, told Gronkowski that she wanted to see him retire as a Patriot. Gronkowski called honoring the request an “absolute no-brainer” amid the years of glory in New England. His most recent charity that Hurley helped with was the Gronk Playground in Boston.
“The whole Gronk persona, everything about myself, was all because of you guys, was all because of the fans here in New England, was all because of my teammates accepting me and everyone else here,” Gronkowski said. “Just accepting who I was from the very beginning and embracing it and letting me just play the game of football out on the football field.”
Gronkowski revisited his favorite memory of his time as a player in New England when the Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks in the 2014 Super Bowl. That was Gronkowski’s first Super Bowl win, and he had six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
“That memory will always be with me, and memories with the guys and the stories with the guys in the locker room, on the practice field. But the No. 1 memory is winning those Super Bowls, big time,” Gronkowski said.
