Rob Gronkowski is regarded as one of the best ever players to have played in the National Football League (NFL). The decorated player is a four-time Super Bowl Champion and even part of the 2010s NFL All-Decade Team. Gronkowski started his career as a New England Patriots player, where he achieved a lot with his compatriot Tom Brady. Gronkowski called the curtains in his NFL career in June 2022, having last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rob Gronkowski is famously nicknamed ‘The Gronk’ and also had a signature touchdown celebration called the ‘Gronk Spike’.
Born on May 14, 1989, Robert James Gronkowski is an American football tight end. He plays at the National Football League (NFL) representing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has previously played nine seasons for the New England Patriots. Nicknamed "the Gronk”, he has won the Super Bowl four-times (XLIX, LI, LIII, LV). Gronkowski also has a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a four-time First Team All-Pro selection to his name. He was also named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
He is widely known for being a skilled receiver and a talented blocker. Gronkowski has set several NFL records, He led the league in receiving touchdowns (17 in 2011) making him the first player in his position to achieve this feat. He is the only tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 or more yards in the playoffs, and also has the most career postseason receiving yards by a tight end (1,389).
‘The Gronk’ initially announced his retirement in 2019 but decided to continue for a few more seasons when his legendary teammate Tom Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gronkowski played for two more seasons (2020 and 2021) before finally announcing his retirement in June, 2022.
Robert James Gronkowski was born on May 14, 1989, in Amherst, New York. He was raised in Williamsville along with four brothers who were also involved in sports. In school, Rob Gronkowski played a number of sports like basketball, hockey, and baseball, along with football. He attended high school in Pittsburgh and was named a SuperPrep All-American, PrepStar All-American and Associated Press Class 4-A All-State.
Rob Gronkowski joined the University of Arizona as a pre-Business Major and represented the Arizona Wildcats football team as a tight end. Gronkowski has won several awards while playing college football at the University of Arizona. He was named a Sporting News and Rivals.com Freshman All-American. Although he had only played two collegiate seasons, his 18.8 yards per reception average and 1,197 receiving yards were a team record for his position.
Rob Gronkowski was drafted in the 2010 NFL draft. He was drafted by the New England Patriots as overall pick number 42, in the second round of the draft. The Patriots could draft Gronkowski because of a draft day trade with the Oakland Raiders. He was the highest drafted tight end out of the University of Arizona and was also rated as the best ‘all-round’ player of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Gronkowski started his career with the New England Patriots who were soaring under Tom Brady. Gronkowski witnessed a great start to his career and in his rookie season he already became the youngest rookie (tight end) in NFL history to catch three touchdown passes in a game. Gronkowski also got named to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2010.
In his second season, Gronkowski broke the NFL record for touchdowns in a single season by a tight end by Week 13 of the 2011 NFL season. He also made history by the end of the season by being the sole tight end to lead the league in receiving touchdowns (17). Gronkowski also became a Super Bowl winner in the 2011 postseason by winning the Super Bowl XLVI. ‘The Gronk’ witnessed the first NFL injury scare in his third season in 2012 by breaking his left forearm in Week 11. He re-injured the same arm in Week 17 of the season. Nevertheless, he became the first tight end in NFL history to finish three seasons with at least 10 receiving touchdowns.
Forearm issues continued for him into his fourth season with the Patriots and in the NFL with infections affecting his left forearm. Although ‘the Gronk’ managed to recover in time for the season, it eventually ended prematurely with a knee injury from a direct hit from T.J. Ward, against the Cleveland Browns. Gronkowski came back with a bang in the 2014 NFL season with stellar performances which earned him a 10th overall rank in the NFL top 100 players of 2015. He was a major reason for the Patriots winning the Super Bowl XLIX, Gronkowski’s second of his career. He had created a formidable partnership with Tom Brady and together they led the Patriots to great success. Gronkowski’s third Super Bowl win came in the 2016-17 NFL postseason when the Patriots won Super Bowl LI. He, however, did not play in Super Bowl LI as he was on the injured/reserve list. This was followed by another Super Bowl (LIIi) victory in the 2018-19 NFL postseason when the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams.
Gronkowski announced retirement for the first time in 2019 after 9 seasons in the NFL as a New England Patriots player. However, he made a comeback to the NFL in 2020. The Patriots had traded him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 where he joined his Patriots’ teammate Tom Brady. Gronkowski won another Super Bowl (LV) with the Buccaneers after a successful campaign. He became the first-ever NFL player to catch a pass in five different Super Bowls. After finishing the 2021 NFL season by playing all of the games, Gronkowski decided it was time to retire and announced his retirement on June 21, 2022. Gronkowski has had one of the most successful NFL journeys and ended his career as one of the best players to have played the game.
Gronkowski joined the Patriots in 2010 after being picked in the 2nd round of the Draft. He initially signed a four-year rookie contract worth $4.4 million and a signing bonus of $1.76 million. He spent 9 seasons with the Patriots and achieved great heights. Gronkowski won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and earned 5 Pro-Bowl honors. He was also named in 5 First-Team All-PRo and is honored as a part of the 2010s NFL all-decade team. He established himself as one of the finest tight ends to have ever played the game and definitely the best tight end in his era. Rob Gronkowski initially retired from football, playing his last game for the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII. However, he returned to the NFL in 2020 and got traded by the New England Patriots.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded Rob Gronkowski in exchange for a seventh-round pick and a compensatory fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He reunited with his ex-Patriots teammate Tom Brady who was adamant about Gronk joining the team. He won the Super Bowl (LLV) in his first season as a Buccaneers player and in 2021 he extended his contract with the franchise. He signed a one-year deal worth $10 million. Gronkowski suffered multiple ribs and lung injuries throughout the season and he finally announced retirement from the NFL on June 21, 2022 after two successful seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Rob Gronkowski is no stranger to winning Championship Rings. He has won the Super Bowl four times; thrice with the New England Patriots and once with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gronkowski has also won 6 Conference Championship Rings. He won 5 AFC Championship rings with the Patriots and 1 NFC Championship ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Gronkowski has won both the AFC and NFC Conference Championships. Here is a look at the 6 Conference Championship Rings won by Rob Gronkowski.
Total Super Bowl Appearances: 6
Super Bowl Record: 4-2
First tight end to lead the league in receiving touchdowns (2011)
Most touchdown receptions by a tight end, season: 17 (2011)
Most total touchdowns by a tight end, season: 18 (2011)
The youngest player with 3 touchdown receptions in a game: 21 years, 184 days (2010, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)
Most 100-yard games by a tight end in NFL history (32)
Most offensive touchdowns in first two seasons: 28 (tied with Randy Moss)
Most seasons with 10+ touchdowns by a tight end: 5 (2010–2012, 2014–15)
Most career average receiving yards per game among tight ends: 68.3
First tight end to have 3 seasons with 10+ touchdowns and 1,000+ receiving yards (2011, 2014–15)
Consecutive seasons with 10+ touchdowns by a tight end: 3 (2010–2012)
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 touchdowns by a tight end: 15
Most career postseason receiving touchdowns between a quarterback and receiver: 15 (with Tom Brady)
First tight end with 1,000+ career postseason receiving yards
Most career postseason receiving yards by a tight end: 1,163
The youngest player with 3 touchdown receptions in a game, playoffs: 22 years, 275 days (2011 playoffs, vs. Denver Broncos)
(This list includes the regular season and playoffs combined)
Rob Gronkowski has amassed a net worth of approximately $45 million. Most of his earnings are from his NFL career and he has also earned money through endorsement deals and television appearances. Gronkowski hardly spent any of his NFL earnings. He earns approximately $8 million in endorsement deals from brands like Dunkin’ Donuts, Visa, Lyft and T-Mobile among others.
Read More: Rob Gronkowski’s Net Worth (Updated 2022)
Rob Gronkowski comes from a family of sportspeople. He is one of five brothers. His eldest brother Gordie Gronkowski Jr. played professional baseball for the Los Angeles Angels in the MLB. All of the other Gronkowski brothers have played in the NFL.
Read more about: Rob Gronkowski’s Brothers
Rob Gronkowski is currently in a relationship with American model and TV host, Camille Kostek. They have been together publicly since 2015 and live together in Tampa, Florida. They own a French bulldog named Ralphie and will likely get to spend more time together with Gronkowski’s retirement call.
Also Read: All about Rob Gronkowski’s Girlfriend, Camille Kostek
