The 33-year-old future Corridor of Famer posted the announcement Tuesday afternoon on Instagram.
TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight finish Rob Gronkowski is retiring from the NFL — once more.
The 33-year-old future Corridor of Famer introduced the information Tuesday afternoon in a heartfelt Instagram put up the place he thanked the Buccaneers group, followers and the complete Tampa Bay space for his unbelievable profession.
The four-time Tremendous Bowl champ described how enjoying for the Bucs was his “dream job alternative” in faculty.
“And let me inform ya, the journey in Tampa during the last 2 years has blown away what I initially wrote about in faculty, massive time,” he wrote.
Bucs basic supervisor Jason Licht launched a press release following Gronk’s retirement announcement.
“Rob is a real skilled who left all of it on the sphere for us the previous two seasons and helped set up a championship tradition in our constructing,” Licht stated. “He performed an important half in our Tremendous Bowl LV championship season in 2020 and battled by way of quite a lot of accidents final yr whereas on the best way to probably the most productive receiving yardage seasons in his 11-year profession.”
Licht continued displaying his appreciation for the star tight finish and wished him the very best in his future endeavors — and even talked about Gronkowski’s probability of changing into an NFL Corridor of Famer.
“It’s at all times troublesome to see a fantastic participant stroll away from the sport when he’s nonetheless having fun with that sort of success, however the overwhelming feelings I really feel at present are gratitude and respect for one of many biggest tight ends who ever performed the sport. Whereas his on-field accomplishments will certainly earn him a gold jacket and a spot within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, it’s his humble angle and team-first strategy to the sport that actually outlined his profession.”
Gronkowski beforehand retired in 2019 after 9 seasons with the New England Patriots. However that retirement was short-lived, lasting solely 13 months earlier than he joined Tom Brady in Tampa, the place they gained Tremendous Bowl LV.
Now, he is strolling again into his “retirement dwelling, strolling away from soccer once more with my head held excessive realizing I gave it all the things I had, good or dangerous, each time I stepped out on the sphere.”
As for what’s subsequent — we do not know for certain.
“Possibly crusing the seas 🏴☠️” he joked in his Instagram put up.
The tight finish reportedly informed sports activities journalist Jordan Schultz, who was the primary to report the information, that he’s “excited to pursue different alternatives.”
Gronkowski leaves the sport considered one of many biggest tight ends in NFL historical past. He first made waves in 2011 when he set the league report for many receiving touchdowns by a decent finish with 17.
As ESPN stories, Gronk was named a First-Crew All-Professional in 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2017, and was picked to 5 Professional Bowls throughout his 11-season profession.
He has probably the most profession touchdowns by a decent finish in postseason historical past, with 15, and probably the most 100-yard video games by a decent finish in NFL historical past.
Tom Brady, considered the best quarterback of all time and Gronk’s good good friend, additionally introduced his retirement earlier this yr, solely to unretire lower than two months later.
And in line with his agent, that possibility is not utterly off the desk for Gronkowski both.
“It could not shock me if Tom Brady calls him throughout the season to return again and Rob solutions the decision,” Drew Rosenhaus informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “That is simply my opinion however I would not be shocked if Rob comes again throughout the season or subsequent season.”
