For the second time, Rob Gronkowski retires.
The five-time Pro Bowl and four-time All-Pro Tight End, known for both his personality and his skills on the football field, announced his retirement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In college, I was asked to write about a dream job opportunity that I wanted to pursue and where the place would be. Every time I had to write about my future, no matter what, I chose to be a professional footballer. For this task, however, we had to choose the location. So I wrote that I wanted to play in Tampa for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for many reasons, sunny weather was number 1. I completely forgot to write this report until 2 years ago, when I had the opportunity to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And let me tell you, the trip to Tampa over the last 2 years has ruined what I originally wrote about in college for a long time. And for that I want to thank the whole first-class Buccaneers organization for the amazing trip, as they trusted me to come back to play and help build a champion team. Now I will return to my retirement home, leaving football again with my head held high, knowing that I have given him everything I had, good or bad, every time I went out on the field. The friendships and connections I have made will last forever and I appreciate each of my teammates and coaches for giving everything they had. From retirement, back to football and winning another championship and now back to retirement, thank you all. Buccaneers нове fans, Krewe, without you guys, none of this is possible, you all wore it in every game, thank you for everything you do. Cheers for the next one, maybe sailing 🏴☠️ Arghhhhhh !!
Although he is not at the top of the career rankings in any statistical category, it can be pointed out that no tight end in the history of football has affected the game more than him. Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez revolutionized the game of tight-end as elite offensive weapons. Gronkowski took the position to a new level as he prepared the stage for players like Travis Kelche and George Keatle behind him.
The story continues
Rob Gronkowski’s second act in the NFL is made after a two-season series with the Bucs. (Jason Goetz-USA TODAY Sports)
Gronk’s legacy intertwined with Tom Brady’s
An athlete weighing 6-6, 270 pounds with elite hands and the ability to play, Gronkowski was a nightmare for the match, bumping into the background. Good luck if you’re a midfielder loaded with men’s coverage or a 205-pound fuse, hoping to beat him for a bouncing ball.
When he was not emphasizing, Gronkowski’s work was blocked. He was also very good at it.
Above all, Gronkowski’s enduring legacy is Tom Brady’s main goal. Brady is the most successful quarterback in NFL history, and he made most of his achievements in New England without the services of an elite broadcaster, except for one spectacular season, playing with Randy Moss.
After Moss, the list of Brady Patriots’ best successors reads, in no particular order: Julian Edelman, Deion Branch, Wes Welker and David Patton. With an apology to Edelman’s hive, no one on this list looks like the Hall of Fame.
But Brady had Gronk. And no one else in the NFL did that.
Gronkowski set a new standard for NFL bottlenecks
When he joined New England as Arizona’s second-round pick in 2010, Gronkowski was unlike anything the NFL had ever seen. After catching 10 touchdowns as a rookie, he exploded in his second season with a campaign with 90 catches, 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns to win his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods.
FOXBOROUGH, MA – OCTOBER 14: Tom Brady # 12 talks to Rob Gronkowski №87 of the New England Patriots after defeating Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman / Getty Images)
Injuries threatened to derail Gronk
The injuries eventually took their toll. Gronkowski overcame the loss of New England in the Super Bowl XLVI from the New York Giants after the 2011 season after a sprain of the ankle, suffered in the AFC championship. He needed surgery after the season.
The following season, he broke his forearm in two separate cases, including during a playoff win over Houston Texas. This injury requires multiple surgeries. He also needed back surgery this off-season. His illness took him out of the first six games in 2013. He endured seven games before finishing 2013 with an injured reserve with a torn knee, which left him with tears in the ACL and MCL. He received many concussions along the way.
The devastation in his body left reasonable questions as to whether Gronkowski’s career could survive his physical style of play. He immediately dispelled these fears in 2014, the year in which he really left his mark on the Patriots. Gronkowski recovered from multiple injuries to play 15 games, catching 82 passes for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. Gronk returned. He was named NFL Player of the Year for his efforts. He also won his first Super Bowl.
It was the first of three rings for Gronkowski with the Patriots until he became the star of the second of Brady’s Super Bowl trilogies. When he finished collecting rings in New England, he had gained so much influence that no one blinked when he won the Vince Lombardi trophy while using it as a baseball bat. It was just Gronk, Gronk. And that was the formula for success.
Gronk will Gronk. (Fred Kfoury III / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Last, fruitful running
Gronkowski was a rare bright light in the 13-3 Super Bowl LIII victory over the Los Angeles Rams. He caught two passes for 47 yards in a critical strike in the fourth quarter that put the Patriots on the 2-yard line for the only touchdown of the game. This was the appropriate code for a spectacular career, and Gronkowski called it a departure during this off-season.
But Brady continued. And when he went to Tampa Bay, Gronkowski could not resist the lure of another run with his future Hall of Fame colleague. The warm climate definitely helped. Gronkowski has retired. And, of course, the pair won their final Super Bowl with Gronkowski, catching two touchdowns from Brady against Kansas City Chiefs.
After another successful season, albeit without a ring, Gronkowski ended his career with 621 catches (10th place among the secret regions), 9,286 reception yards (fifth) and 92 touchdowns (third). He achieved these results in 143 games, a little more than half the time it took Gonzalez (270 games) and Gates (236 games) to reach their brilliant careers. He also has a handful of rings to show for it.
Although Gronkowski says it’s the end, it may not be. His agent, Drew Rosenhouse, told ESPN’s Adam Schaeffer that he’s not sure Gronkowski really, really graduated from the NFL.
“I won’t be surprised if Tom Brady calls him this season to come back and Rob answers,” Rosenhaus said. “That’s just my opinion, but I won’t be surprised if Rob returns next season or next.”
Gronkowski can imagine spending the NFL season on his couch right now, but we may not have seen him catch his last pass from Brady.
Add Comment