A couple of years ago, Gronk had retired and Brady called him to become champion with the Buccaneers. Photo: AP Photo / Ashley Landis.
Four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski announced on Tuesday his retirement from the NFL at the age of 33 after playing 11 seasons.
“I want to thank the entire Buccaneers organization for an incredible journey, because they trusted me to play again and help build a champion team. Now I will be returning to my retirement home away from American football,” the player wrote on its social networks. .
This is the second time that the three-ring winner of the Super Bowl has retired with the New England Patriots in XLIX, LI and LIII editions, and another time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in LV.
The first was at the end of the 2019 season. ‘Gronk’ returned in 2020 alongside quarterback Tom Brady, with whom he had lifted three Lombardi trophies to the Pats, to play for the Bucs, the team with which he won his last. NFL championship. .
Gronk, a true NFL character, considered the best tight end in history. Photo: AP Photo / Marcio Jose Sanchez.
“From my first retirement to then return to football to win another championship and now I am relaxing again, thanks to everyone, especially the Buccaneers fans, without you none of this would have been possible”, he added in his message from goodbye.
Gronkowski is considered the best tight end in NFL history and is a natural candidate to enter the League Hall of Fame when the five seasons required from his retirement have been completed to be eligible.
In 11 years he amassed 621 receptions, 9,286 yards and 92 touchdowns. During his heyday with the Patriots he was a monster both as a blocker and as a safety valve by Tom Brady; in New England he added four seasons of over 1,000 yards.
He has won four Super Bowls, was selected five times in the Pro Bowl and was included the greatest team of all time at the 100th anniversary of the NFL.
In his final season, 2021, he had 55 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games.
Rob Gronkowski in one of his last games with the Buccaneers. In Tampa they dream that he will regret his retirement again. Photo: AP Photo / Adam Hunger.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has expressed hope throughout the off-season that “Gronk” would return to play one final season with his great friend Tom Brady in 2022, a situation that was ruled out with this announcement.
Despite the statement, Gronkowski’s agent Drew Rosenhaus said there will always be a chance for Brady to call the tight end. and maybe I will convince him of a new adventure.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Tom Brady called him during the season to come back and Rob answered the call. It’s just my opinion,” Rosenhaus said.
Source: EFE
Source: Clarin
