Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tight End Rob Gronkowski Is Officially Retiring From Football

Gronk
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Looks like one of the most popular, and arguably the best tight end in the NFL is officially hanging up the cleats for good.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski told him that he’s retiring from the game for the second time, after his buddy and longtime New England Patriots teammate Tom Brady pulled him out of retirement back in 2020 to join him in Tampa Bay.

Schultz tweeted out:

“Breaking: Rob Gronkowski tells me he’s retiring.

The future first ballot Hall of Famer won four Super Bowls while earning a spot on the NFL’s 100th Anniversary Team and 2010s All-Decade Team.

An all-time great officially hangs em up at 33 years old.”

Schultz followed up:

“Had a great conversation just now with Rob Gronkowski, who is excited to pursue other opportunities. End of an era for one of the best players ever.”

Gronkowski also posted a heartfelt message to Instagram:

“In college, I was asked to write about a dream job opportunity that I wanted to pursue and where the location would be. Every time I had to write about my future, no matter what, I picked being a professional football player.

For that assignment though, we had to pick the location. So I wrote that I wanted to play in Tampa for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for many reasons, the sunny weather being #1. I completely forgot about writing this report until 2 years ago when I had the opportunity to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

And let me tell ya, the journey in Tampa over the last 2 years has blown away what I originally wrote about in college, big time. And for this, I want to thank the whole entire first class Buccaneers organization for an amazing ride, trusting me to come back to play and help build a championship team.

I will now be going back into my retirement home, walking away from football again with my head held high knowing I gave it everything I had, good or bad, every time I stepped out on the field. The friendships and relationships I have made will last forever, and I appreciate every single one of my teammates and coaches for giving everything they had as well.

From retirement, back to football and winning another championship and now back to chilling out, thank you to all. Buccaneers fans, the Krewe, without you guys, none of this is possible, all of ya brought it every game, thank you for all you do. Cheers to what’s next, maybe sailing the seas Arghhhhhh!!”

The 33-year-old will finish his career with 621 receptions for 9,286 yards, and 92 total touchdowns over a total of 11 seasons in the NFL.

It’s been one helluva run for one of the all-time great tight ends and personalities in the game of football.

A beer bottle on a dock

STAY ENTERTAINED

A RIFF ON WHAT COUNTRY IS REALLY ABOUT

A beer bottle on a dock