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Rob Gronkowski officially retires from the NFL and signs a one-day contract to ensure he becomes a “patriot for life.”
Gronkowski said on “FOX NFL Sunday” that he will sign a one-day contract with the New England Patriots this week to retire as a member of the storied franchise with which he won three of his four Super Bowl rings.
The announcement came as the Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the last team Gronkowski played for alongside Tom Brady and won Super Bowl LV with in 2021, were set to face off. Brady was present for this contest alongside Kevin Burkhardt.
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New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski recovers a pass defended by Baltimore Ravens defensive back Rashaan Melvin in the 1st quarter. The New England Patriots take on the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. (Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
The Patriots announced Monday that Gronkowski would sign the one-day contract Wednesday afternoon, before the Thursday Night Football game against the AFC East rival New York Jets.
Gronkowski, 36, began his NFL career in 2010, when the Patriots drafted him 42nd overall in the second round out of Arizona. He spent nine seasons in New England, becoming one of the best tight ends to play the game as he and Brady developed a connection that played a major role in winning those Super Bowls under head coach Bill Belichick.
He initially said he would hang up his cleats after the 2018 season, but when Brady left the Patriots to join the Buccaneers, Gronkowski couldn’t resist another opportunity to play with his favorite quarterback in the Sunshine State.
Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady celebrate after winning the Super Bowl. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
With a loaded Buccaneers team, Brady and Gronkowski won their last Super Bowl together, where the tight end scored twice at Raymond James Stadium to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy against the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a 31-9 blowout.
Gronkowski retired after the 2022 season and Brady followed suit in 2023 after a first-round elimination against the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs.
While Gronkowski and Brady remain colleagues on the Fox Sports team, they watch the Patriots return to their old winning ways, just like when they were there. Another Patriot, head coach Mike Vrabel, leads the way in his first season at the position.
There’s also a new sheriff in town, at least at quarterback. Drake Maye, who the franchise selected third overall out of UNC in 2024, has played like an MVP candidate as the team goes 8-2 through its first 10 games. He is third in the NFL in passing yards (2,555) and tied for third in passing touchdowns (19). Maye’s 113.9 quarterback rating is also sixth in the league.
Rob Gronkowski on the field before the game between the California Golden Bears and the UNLV Rebels in the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2024. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)
The future is bright for New England, but one of its legends has ensured his NFL book is closed as a member of the storied franchise.
