Rob Gronkowski: a superstar on and off the field

Mar 25, 2019 | Sports

NFL football player Rob Gronkowski arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, California February 28, 2016. (REUTERS/Danny Moloshok)

Harjas Badyal

The Gronk party bus has made its last stop in the NFL.

New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski is calling it a career at the age of 29 after only nine seasons in the NFL.

Opposing players will not miss him on the field, but fans will miss his fun-loving party spirit around the year.

James McBride, a New England Patriots beat reporter said his retirement had been a real possibility for some time now.

“I think because Rob’s retirement was a real possibility, the organization has been planning for it for a while. Gronkowski has been hinting at retirement ever since the Patriots lost Super Bowl LII to the Eagles. So, while I think the timing of the announcement may be a bit of a surprise, I don’t think anyone in the organization or the fan base, in general, is surprised.”

Although he is leaving the game considerably earlier than most thought, Gronkowski has already solidified himself as a future Hall of Famer one of the greatest tight ends in history.

“He is the best all-around tight end I’ve seen. He was equally good at receiving as he was at run blocking, and was a force in just about every game he played,” said Matt Pepin a sports editor for the Boston Globe.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski scores a touchdown over Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson in the second half of their NFL football game in Foxborough, Massachusetts November 21, 2011.(REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

Gronkowski in the record books.

His name is all over the record books alongside other HOF tight-end like Tony Gonzalez and Shannon Sharpe, and has been arguably the most dominant player in this decade.

Here is a list of records under his name.

  • Most receptions by a tight end in Super Bowl history (23)
  • Most receiving yards by a tight end in Super Bowl history (297)
  • Most career postseason receiving yards by a tight end (1,163)
  • Most receiving touchdowns by a tight end in a single season (17)
  • Most touchdowns by a tight end in a single season (18)
  • Most career postseason touchdowns by a tight end (12)
  • Most seasons with 10+ touchdowns by a tight end (5)
  • Most consecutive seasons with 10+ touchdowns by a tight end (3)
  • Youngest player with 3 touchdown receptions in a game (21 years, 184 days)
  • Youngest player with 3 touchdown receptions in a playoff game (22 years, 275 days)
  • Only tight end to have three seasons with 10+ touchdowns and 1,000+ yards
  • Only tight end to lead the league in receiving touchdowns (2011)
  • Only tight end with 1,000+ career postseason receiving yards

(credit:SportsIllustrated)

Big player, bigger personality.

The pioneer of the “Gronk Spike” was a dominant force on the field, but off the field he was as big a star.

It was reported by Michael Giardi of NFL Network that Gronkowski had already agreed to a deal with a TV company before this year’s Super Bowl.

He danced his way to three Super Bowl championships.

 Preparing for the Super Bowl

Or celebrating the Super Bowl

He was always party ready

 

Gronk could already have plans for retirement because he made an appearance in the WWE during WrestleMania in 2017.

“While I think he’d be a WWE superstar, I don’t think he go in that direction for health reasons,” said McBride.