Rob Gronkowski Announces Retirement (Again)

Just a couple of years ago, prior to the start of the 2019 season, veteran tight end Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL. Things changed quickly after Tom Brady made the big decision to head to Tampa Bay and play for the Buccaneers.

Gronkowski is 33 years old, but as of now, it sounds like he’s hanging it up for good this time. The clock is ticking on Brady, as he could honestly retire at any given moment and no one would really be surprised. That being said, it’s pretty telling that Gronkowski isn’t coming back this year. It could be the last year that Brady plays in the NFL, let alone the Buccaneers. If Gronk isn’t up for one more shot at a Super Bowl and playing with Brady in what could be his final year in the NFL, well, he really must not want to play anymore.

Gronkowski is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2027, and many consider him the greatest tight end of all time. He’ll likely be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, assuming of course that he does indeed retire as there’s already been speculation regarding this.

Gronk’s Farewell Post

“In college, I was asked to write about a dream job opportunity that I wanted to pursue and where the location would be,” Gronkowski wrote. “Every time I had to write about my future, no matter what, I picked being a professional football player. For that assignment though, we had to pick the location. So I wrote that I wanted to play in Tampa for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for many reasons, the sunny weather being #1. I completely forgot about writing this report until two years ago when I had the opportunity to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And let me tell ya, the journey in Tampa over the last two years has blown away what I originally wrote about in college, big time. And for this, I want to thank the whole entire first-class Buccaneers organization for an amazing ride, trusting me to come back to play and help build a championship team.

“I will now be going back into my retirement home, walking away from football again with my head held high knowing I gave it everything I had, good or bad, every time I stepped out on the field. The friendships and relationships I have made will last forever, and I appreciate every single one of my teammates and coaches for giving everything they had as well. From retirement, back to football and winning another championship and now back to chilling out, thank you to all. Buccaneers fans, the Krewe, without you guys, none of this is possible, all of ya brought it every game, thank you for all you do. Cheers to what’s next, maybe sailing the seas. Arghhhhhh!!”

Career Stats

Gronkowski has spent 11 seasons in the league since being drafted back in 2010 by the New England Patriots. He was selected 42nd overall in the 2nd Round of the draft and has been a force ever since. He’s got nearly 10,000 career receiving yards and 93 total touchdowns.

• Games: 43
• Targets: 960
• Receptions: 621
• Receiving Yards: 9,286
• Receiving Touchdowns: 92

NFL Records

Game/Single-Season Records

• First tight end to lead the league in receiving touchdowns (2011)
• Most touchdown receptions by a tight end, season: 17 (2011)
• Most total touchdowns by a tight end, season: 18 (2011)
• The youngest player with 3 touchdown receptions in a game: 21 years, 184 days (2010, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)

Career Records

• Most 100-yard games by a tight end in NFL history (32)
• Most offensive touchdowns in first two seasons: 28 (tied with Randy Moss)
• Most seasons with 10+ touchdowns by a tight end: 5 (2010–2012, 2014–15)
• Most career average receiving yards per game among tight ends: 68.3
• First tight end to have 3 seasons with 10+ touchdowns and 1,000+ receiving yards (2011, 2014–15)
• Consecutive seasons with 10+ touchdowns by a tight end: 3 (2010–2012)

Post-Season Records

• Most receptions by a tight end in Super Bowl history: 23
• Most receiving yards by a tight end in Super Bowl history: 297
• Most career postseason receiving touchdowns by a tight end: 15
• Most career postseason receiving touchdowns between a quarterback and receiver: 15 (with Tom Brady)
• First tight end with 1,000+ career postseason receiving yards
• Most career postseason receiving yards by a tight end: 1,163
• The youngest player with 3 touchdown receptions in a game, playoffs: 22 years, 275 days (2011 playoffs, vs. Denver Broncos)

Patriots Records

• Most career touchdown receptions: 79
• Most games with multiple touchdowns: 16
• Most games with 100+ receiving yards by a tight end: 26
• Highest receiving yards per game average for a tight end (season): 82.9 (2011)

Awards/Honors

• Four-time Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI, LIII, LV)
• Four-time First Team All-Pro (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017)
• Five-time Pro Bowl selection (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017)
• 2014 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
• 2010s All-Decade Team
• 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

2022 Top 10 Quarterbacks

2022 Top 10 DSTs

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