Total Pro Sports
You could almost hear the collective anger when FOX Sports announced that Rob Gronkowski would replace Jimmy Johnson on FOX NFL Sunday.
After decades of sharp analysis and old-school grit, Johnson walked away from the studio desk at the end of last season. Fans may have expected a shake-up, but this? Gronk? The guy best known for spiking footballs and shouting “Yo soy fiesta”? That didn’t sit well.
Sure, Gronk is a four-time Super Bowl champ and has done plenty of work with the network before. He’s loud, likable, and knows how to grab attention. But for a lot of NFL fans, that’s exactly the problem. They wanted insight, not just random, useless talks.
Social media wasted no time dragging FOX for the move. The reaction was fast, loud, and mostly brutal.
FOX also announced that with Jimmy Johnson now retired, Rob Gronkowski will officially replace him in the studio, joining Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, and Michael Strahan on the desk. https://t.co/eMG4cfydoy pic.twitter.com/jLgya8CmMs
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 8, 2025
“Is it me or anyone else who doesn’t like hearing this dude talk?” one user wrote bluntly.
Is it me or anyone else who doesn’t like hearing this dude talk?
— JP (@ParsonsBurgh11) August 8, 2025
Another added, “Gronk is just not good at talking ball. I’m sorry. He’s funny when that’s what matters, but sometimes you gotta actually be able to break stuff down.”
Gronk is just not good at talking ball I'm sorry 😭 he's funny when that's what matters but sometimes you gotta actually be able to break shit down.
— Val Dewar (flyweight enjoyer) (@the3els) August 8, 2025
A lot of the pushback has less to do with Gronk as a person and more with what he brings, or doesn’t bring, to the table.
“Biggest downgrade possible,” one fan said.
Biggest downgrade possible
— Brian S. (@sethness) August 8, 2025
Even Patriots fans weren’t buying in. “As a Pats fan I LOVE Gronk,” one posted. “But he belongs nowhere near a microphone. He’s awful.”
As a Pats fan I LOVE Gronk but he belongs nowhere near a microphone. He’s awful
— Dan McGrath (@dmm1124) August 8, 2025
The criticism didn’t stop there. Longtime FOX staple Terry Bradshaw also caught strays. “Terry Bradshaw needs to call it a career too,” one viewer said.
Terry Bradshaw needs to call it a career too.
— Jireh #BirdGang (@jirashon) August 8, 2025
FOX hasn’t responded publicly to the backlash, and Gronk hasn’t said much either. But one thing is clear: Fans aren’t holding back.
This isn’t just a change on the set. For many, it feels like the end of an era, and not in a good way.
Also Read: Rob Gronkowski Gives His Unfiltered Opinion On Transgender Athletes Competing In Women’s Sports
