New England Patriots - NESN.com
Rob Gronkowski signed a one-day contract with the New England Patriots to officially retire as a member of the team on Wednesday.
Gronkowski is a future Hall of Famer and is one of the best players in franchise history. He spent nine seasons with the Patriots, and the team posted a small message for the legendary tight end on X.
“Thank you Gronk,” the team’s social media account wrote in all caps.
Gronkowski was a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All-Pro with the Patriots. He was also a key member of two championship teams with New England. He retired after the 2018 season, but came out of retirement to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He spent the final two seasons of his career with the Buccaneers, winning his third Super Bowl in 2020. Gronkowski’s nine seasons in New England cemented him as one of the best tight ends in NFL and franchise history.
Gronkowski leads the franchise with 79 receiving touchdowns. He is second in team history with 7,861 receiving yards and fifth in receptions with 521.
Among tight ends in NFL history, Gronkowski ranks sixth in yards, third in touchdowns and 10th in receptions. It’s hard to envision the Patriots achieving their second dynasty without Gronkowski. He was a consistent producer in the playoffs throughout his career.
In 22 playoff games, he posted 1,389 yards and 15 touchdowns. He led the league in receiving touchdowns in three separate postseasons.
