Rob Gronkowski Retires (again) From NFL: Why We Hope This One ...

Skip to main content Advertising

Analysis

Rob Gronkowski retires (again) from NFL: Why we hope this one doesn't stick either Published: Jun 21, 2022 at 06:54 PM

Judy Battista

Senior National Columnist

• Copied!

The first time Rob Gronkowski retired -- three years, a team switch and a Super Bowl title ago -- it came in the wake of a sobering season, one in which he had mused aloud about the hits he had taken and how they had affected his mood. The life of the party was leaving on a down note, and taking all the fun with him.

Happily, a year off and a good sales job by Tom Brady convinced Gronkowski to give it another go, this time in Tampa, and he walked away for the second time on Tuesday, seemingly less exhausted and more satisfied. So much so that within minutes of his announcement, his own agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he wouldn't be surprised if Gronkowski took a call from Brady and returned by midseason.

Related Links

• State of the 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tom Brady's return keeps Super Bowl well within reach
• 2022 NFL free agency tracker: Latest signings, trades, contract info for all 32 teams
• 2022 NFL season: Who will make a Steph Curry-like move up the all-time player rankings?
• 10 new NFL head coaches: Who's in the best situation for 2022? The worst? Let's rank 'em!
• NFL community reacts to Rob Gronkowski's second retirement
• 2022 NFL season: Most likely team to end playoff drought? Least likely? Let's rank 'em!

That nobody wants to say a final farewell to perhaps the greatest tight end in history is understandable. Last season, when he played in just 12 games while battling through injuries, he still had 55 receptions for 802 yards (his fifth-best yardage total in a season) and six touchdowns. In 2020, he played every game, and was dominant in the Super Bowl, with six receptions and two touchdowns in the victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a throwback performance, the kind that Brady and the Bucs might seek -- albeit in limited doses -- as the 2022 season develops. 

Gronkowski, at his greatest in his prime years with the Patriots, was an unstoppable force. Watching him rampage through a defense with the ball in his hand was like watching a runaway horse, all energy and power. He was like that in just enough spurts with the Bucs to imagine that, even now, he could still summon those gleeful romps again if he was asked. 

The Bucs had clearly appealed to Gronkowski. The player-friendly rhythms there suited him. His body was preserved for games. In his retirement announcement, Gronkowski said that in college he was asked what his dream job would be and where it was located. He wrote that he wanted to be a professional football player in Tampa Bay. The sunny weather was the top reason. Gronkowski said he had forgotten about that assignment until two years ago, but that his experience had far exceeded what he had hoped for when he completed that college assignment.

Perhaps best of all, it was a joy to watch Gronkowski all the way to the end. It had not been that way when he retired the first time around. His body had begun to betray him and his production plummeted. He caught just three touchdown passes in 2018, his final year in New England. The Patriots won the Super Bowl that season, but it felt as if Gronkowski, wearing his pain so publicly, had faded in front of us. It was hard to watch and even harder to accept that Gronkowski was finished. 

That's why this renaissance in Tampa was so delightful. Brady and Gronkowski revived their buddy-movie vibe -- if you have not seen the Tommy & Gronky take a friendship test video from the Bucs, watch it. Bruce Arians smartly deployed Gronkowski when he needed him most. It was the perfect cap on Gronkowski's extraordinary career, one that will put him in the Hall of Fame, whenever he is eligible (a player or coach must be retired for at least five years before they can be considered). 

When Gronkowski retired the first time, you hoped for the best -- that his body would heal, that he would recover, that he would be happy with his decision. There was a whiff of sadness then, and an acknowledgement that he had been beaten up. The Bucs years worked wonders, just as he had projected in that college essay, and they felt like the sweet reward for a career that had taken its toll. Like all good desserts, it left you wanting a little bit more.

If Gronkowski's announcement Tuesday, and Rosenhaus' subsequent suggestion, merely mean Gronk wants to skip training camp -- well, he wouldn't be the first player. That's not where the fun is and Gronkowski was all about fun -- he participated in a dance-off with a player's young daughter at a Super Bowl media appearance, inspired erotic literature and once did a Tide Pods ad in which he declared, correctly, "I'm big and awesome!" Brady's return from his own retirement opens the door for one more revival of what has been the best tight end show in football for more than a decade. 

In the end zone, in the playoffs, with Brady. It is where Gronkowski has thrived and it is why we hope this retirement doesn't stick much longer than Brady's.

Follow Judy Battista on Twitter.

Related Content

news

NFL trend watch: Heavy personnel could shape Super Bowl LX showdown between Patriots and Seahawks

Over the last decade, defense began to outpace offense in the NFL. But in 2025, many of the league's greatest offensive minds developed a counter: get bigger. Next Gen Stats researcher James Reber explains how heavy personnel could shape the Super Bowl LX showdown between the Patriots and Seahawks.

news

Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026: Predicting five modern-era player inductees

Adam Rank predicts five modern-era player inductees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026. Are Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald locks? Who else will make the cut?

news

New England Patriots' quick rebuild, rise to Super Bowl underscores shifting AFC landscape

The AFC has been largely dominated by the Kansas City Chiefs over the past seven seasons. However, the New England Patriots' overnight rise to the Super Bowl emphasizes how much things are changing in that conference, Jeffri Chadiha writes.

news

Super Bowl picks, odds, score predictions for Seahawks vs. Patriots

Will the New England Patriots become the first franchise to win seven Super Bowls? Can Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks secure the team's second Lombardi Trophy on Sunday? NFL Media analysts provide predictions for Super Bowl LX.

news

Top NFL fits & fashion: Tyrod Taylor, Kyler Gordon among best-dressed players of 2025

With 'NFL Honors' on tap, this is the perfect time for Cameron Wolfe to spotlight the 10 best-dressed players of the 2025 NFL season, according to his panel of fashion experts.

news

One roster move each NFC team should make during the 2026 NFL offseason

How will Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings address the quarterback position? Can the Cowboys fill the pass-rush void left by the Micah Parsons trade? Kevin Patra identifies one key move for each NFC team in the 2026 offseason.

news

One roster move each AFC team should make during the 2026 NFL offseason

Can the Chiefs fill a major void to aid Patrick Mahomes? How will the Dolphins' new regime solve their quarterback dilemma? Kevin Patra zeroes in on one key move for each AFC team in the 2026 offseason.

news

Lance Zierlein 2026 NFL mock draft 1.0: Electric RB Jeremiyah Love cracks top 10; 49ers take tight end

In his first mock of the 2026 NFL Draft, Lance Zierlein has Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love going in the top 10. Plus, the 49ers pounce on a versatile tight end. Check out the full first-round projection, 1-32.

news

2025 Protector of the Year: Who should win inaugural award at NFL Honors?

There are six finalists for the NFL Protector of the Year award, and the winner will be announced at NFL Honors on Thursday. Who should claim that title in its inaugural year? NFL.com analysts reveal their picks. 

news

2026 Senior Bowl takeaways: Garrett Nussmeier delivers MVP performance in NFL draft showcase

Which QB shined brightest in Saturday's Senior Bowl? Who were the other prospects that stood out in the 2026 NFL Draft showcase? Eric Edholm offers three takeaways from the all-star event.

news

2026 NFL Draft burning questions: QBs in class to know beyond Fernando Mendoza? Deepest position?

Will a QB-needy team look to Ty Simpson, Carson Beck or Garrett Nussmeier? Which position is the deepest? Bucky Brooks answers six burning questions on the 2026 NFL Draft.

news

Eric Edholm 2026 NFL mock draft 1.0: Two receivers in top five; Patriots, Seahawks bolster elite defenses

In his first mock of the 2026 NFL Draft, Eric Edholm has a pair of wide receivers coming off the board in the top five picks. Plus, the Super Bowl LX teams add more talent to their elite defenses. Check out the full first-round projection, 1-32.

Big left arrow icon Big right arrow icon Close icon Copy Url Three dots icon Down arrow icon Email icon Email icon Exit Fullscreen icon External link icon Facebook logo Football icon Facebook logo Instagram logo Snapchat logo YouTube logo TikTok logo Spotify logo LinkedIn logo Grid icon Key icon Left arrow icon Link icon Location icon Mail icon Menu icon Open icon Phone icon Play icon Radio icon Rewind icon Right arrow icon Search icon Select icon Selected icon TV icon Up arrow icon User icon Audio icon Add to calendar iconNFC icon AFC icon NFL icon Carousel IconList ViewWebsite InstagramTwitterFacebookSnapchatShop IconProfile Overlay AvatarAddAirplayArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpArrow DownAudioBack 5sBack 10sBack 30sCalendarChartCheckDownLeftRightUpChromecast OffChromecast OnCloseClosed CaptionsBench OffBench OnBroad OffBroad OnVertical OffVertical OnCommentDockDoneDownloadDraftFantasyFilterForward 5sForward 10sForward 30sFull Screen OffFull Screen OnGamepassGamesInsightsKeyLeaveLiveCombineDraftFantasyMenu GamesMenu NetworkMenu NewsMenu PlayoffsMenu Pro BowlMenu ShopMenu StandingsMenu StatsMenu Super BowlMenu TeamsMenu TicketsMenuMore HorizontalMore VerticalMy LocationNetworkNewsPauseplayMultiple PlayersSingle PlayerPlaylistPlayoffsPro BowlPurgeRefreshRemoveSearchSettingsShare AndroidShare Copy URLShare EmailShare FacebookShare InstagramShare iOSShare SnapchatShare TwitterSkip NextSkip PreviousStandingsStarStatsSwapTeamsTicketsVideoVisibility OffVisibility OnVolume HiVolume LowVolume MediumVolume MuteWarningWebsite Caret downCaret upAtNewsPlayAudioGalleryPromo Chevron right The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Got it!