How We Will Remember Rob Gronkowski
Tight end Rob Gronkowski announced via his Instagram account that he is retiring from the National Football League for the second time in his career. He played the 2021 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and today we will discuss how Gronk is going to be remembered.
Having an NFL career is like attempting to win a jackpot inside of an online casino. It can be a great thing while it is happening, but you are always wanting more. This is the biggest reason Gronk has already returned to the field from retirement once, but it seems like he may be done this time.
The Greatest Tight End in NFL History
This feels like a difficult thing to evaluate right now, but this is the talk of the town. Gronkowski was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft and was an elite player that was dealing with injuries throughout his collegiate career. He was selected with another tight end in Aaron Hernandez, and the two tight end attack was a huge success for the Patriots’ offense.
It also helps to have an all-time quarterback throwing you the football, as having Tom Brady makes it easier than a mediocre quarterback. He finishes his career with 621 receptions for 9,286 yards with 92 touchdowns during the regular season, and 98 catches for 1,389 yards and 15 touchdowns during his postseason career.
That is the huge thing about the legacy of Gronkowski, as he had a nose for finding the end zone. He finished the 2011 season, just his second season in the NFL, with a league-high 17 touchdown receptions and was essentially the biggest target and security blanket for Tom Brady throughout his career.
An elite quarterback is essential for a skill position player to have an outstanding career, and Gronkowski would only play on a team led by Brady. Leaving as a four-time Super Bowl champion, four-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler, and comeback player of the year, the only question would be how he would have been without the laundry list of injuries.
He played in every game in only two seasons throughout his career and missed the entire 2019 season in his first retirement to heal up on injuries before joining the Buccaneers.
The Fun Goofball
Rob Gronkowski made sure to build up the persona of a lovable goofball in the media’s eyes as he fit the stereotype of a dumb jock. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth, according to people who worked with him on and off the field.
He famously went on the Manningcast during the regular season and said he didn’t study the game film and instead just waited for Tom Brady to tell him what to do, which could be true, but he is one of the more hardworking guys that there can be.
Even during his tenure with the New England Patriots with head coach Bill Belichick he would look to outsiders like an outcast as he had a huge personality in a place where it is all about the team and putting them first over yourself. However, he still could have that personality that fans fell in love with, and let it shine more in his two seasons with the Buccaneers while hosting a little show with Brady sitting outside with a fake palm tree.
Conclusion
Though I would not be shocked if he returns during the regular season, as his agent indicated, I think this is the end of his playing career, and Rob Gronkowski is going to go down as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. His ability to find the end zone and spike the ball is going to be remembered, but paving the way for guys like Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews to be almost like another wide receiver is going to be felt in the NFL for a long time.
Gronk will undoubtedly show up and work in a studio, host some show, or simply join WWE once again, so this won’t be the last time we see him. However, happy retirement to the prototype of a big tight end that will have his bust in Canton when the time comes.
