Rob Gronkowski, born in Amherst, New York, in 1989, revolutionised the tight end position since entering the NFL in 2010 and became one of the league’s most recognisable faces.
Overcoming adversity at Arizona
The son of a former college football player at Syracuse University, Rob Gronkowski was blessed with athletic talents from birth.
Initially playing both ice hockey and basketball in high school, Gronkowski excelled at football, and, after numerous colleges battled for his signature, he decided to play college football at the University of Arizona.
In his first two years as an Arizona Wildcat, Gronkowski scored 16 touchdowns and had over 1,100 receiving yards, but the tight end had to miss his entire junior (third) year after electing to undergo back surgery before the 2009 season.
Trainers and doctors warned Gronkowski that he may not be fit enough to be selected by an NFL team in the upcoming 2010 draft, but also that it was possible for him to regain some of the athleticism that made him so dangerous in college.
Despite the injury causing his stock to fall, he decided to enter the NFL Draft.
The New England Patriots traded up to select Gronkowski with the 42nd overall pick - and, in what would become true Gronk fashion, he celebrated wildly on stage with his family after his name was called.
Despite falling to the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft Rob Gronkowski quickly become a fan favourite in New England.
Life as a New England Patriot
Despite having back surgery a year earlier, Gronkowski didn’t miss a single game in the 2010 NFL season. The tight end scored ten touchdowns as a rookie, beginning to forge his connection with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. New England’s season ended earlier than they’d have hoped, however, as they lost in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Gronkowski was voted to his first Pro Bowl for his outstanding 2011 season, a year in which he set the NFL record for the most touchdowns in a season by a tight end, with 18. The Patriots advanced to Super Bowl XLVI, but due to an ankle injury suffered earlier in the postseason, Gronkowski struggled to contribute. As a result, the Patriots lost 21-17 to the New York Giants.
Unsurprisingly, New England saw past the immediate consequence of injury to make Gronkowski the highest-paid tight end in NFL history, when they signed him to a six-year, $54 million contract heading into the 2012 campaign. New England’s tight end was named to another Pro Bowl despite missing five games with an arm injury.
Gronkowski’s 2013 season was another impacted by injury, as in a game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 14, he tore both the ACL and MCL in his right knee, ruling him out for the rest of the year and the playoffs.
Focused on staying fully fit and healthy for the 2014 season, Gronkowski helped New England to Super Bowl XLIX with 1,124 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns - and NFL Comeback Player of the Year honours. Against the Seattle Seahawks, the tight end recorded six receptions for 68 yards and a first-half touchdown.
However, the game’s highlight came from his teammate Malcolm Butler, who intercepted Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson at the Patriots’ one-yard line to seal a 28-24 victory, and give Gronkowski his first ring.
During his nine seasons with the Patriots, 'Gronk' won the Super Bowl four times.
he 2015 season saw more of the Brady-Gronkowski connection that had served New England so well in previous years. The tight end had another Pro Bowl season catching passes from Brady, with 1,176 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, but New England fell one game short of a second straight Super Bowl appearance.
Gronkowski missed eight games in the 2016 season but set a new Patriots franchise record for career receiving touchdowns, with 68, in a Week 8 game against the Buffalo Bills. And even though New England would go on to win Super Bowl LI - and doing so in unbelievable fashion as they trailed the Atlanta Falcons 28-3 in the third quarter - Gronkowski would have to watch from the sidelines as his season was cut short by a back injury sustained against the New York Jets in Week 12.
But even an injury wouldn’t stop Gronkowski from chugging beer at the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory parade.
New England advanced all the way to Super Bowl LII after the 2017 season, a year in which Gronkowski earned the fifth and final Pro Bowl selection of his career, and this time the tight end was able to take the field. However, he would end up on the losing side, as the Philadelphia Eagles won 41-33 - despite Gronkowski’s nine catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
Before the start of the 2018 season, Gronkowski was told he had been traded to the Detroit Lions, but after threatening to retire, the deal fell through. Even with questions surrounding his future, Gronkowski returned to New England - although his season wasn’t as statistically productive as previous campaigns.
Regardless, the Patriots made the Super Bowl for the third season in a row, and Gronkowski’s 29-yard catch in the fourth quarter set up New England’s only touchdown of the game, helping the team to a 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
A retirement, a reunion, and a final goodbye
After nine seasons in the NFL, and three Super Bowl wins, Gronkowski announced his retirement from the sport in March 2019, citing the impact of several injuries.
And yet, in a remarkable change of heart, Gronkowski came out of retirement in April 2020. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he teamed up with quarterback Tom Brady, who had made the move to Tampa a month earlier.
Brady and Gronkowski helped the Bucs to an 11-5 record and a Super Bowl appearance, and in Super Bowl LV, their connection shone once again.
Gronkowski scored the first two touchdowns of the game, both after catching passes from Brady, and the Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9, and the tight end was a Super Bowl champion for the fourth time in his career.
With Tampa Bay looking to repeat as champions, Gronkowski signed a one-year extension with the team and helped them to a 13-win season. Unfortunately, the Buccaneers were unable to defend their title, as they fell to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round.
Then, in June 2022, Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL for the second time, confirming that, even if Brady were to come calling, he would remain retired.
Rob Gronkowski become known for many things in the NFL - most notably his 'Gronk Spike' celebration.
Considered by many to be the greatest tight end of all time, Gronkowski is known for excelling at both aspects of the position. Not only could he catch passes and score touchdowns like a wide receiver, but Gronkowski’s ability to block defenders, to protect either his running back or quarterback, was compared to that of an offensive lineman.
An all-time great on the field, the tight end was also adored by fans for his off-field exploits. Known for partying in the offseason, Gronkowski was always seen shirtless when celebrating with teammates during the Super Bowl victory parades, and he’s also ventured into the world of professional wrestling, winning the WWE 24/7 Championship belt in April 2020.
But Rob Gronkowski may be best remembered for his touchdown celebration. The ‘Gronk Spike’, where he furiously slammed the football into the ground after scoring, became one of the NFL's most iconic images in the 2010s - and Gronkowski, one of its most iconic players.
