Rob Gronkowski is an American athlete who competed in the National Football League as a tight end for the New England Patriots and later the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was known throughout the sports world by his nickname, "Gronk." He is considered one of the most competitive tight ends to ever play in the league and has several accolades, including multiple Super Bowl wins while earning multiple NFL records. His career statistics when he retired after the 2021 season stood at 621 receptions, 9,286 receiving yards, and 92 receiving touchdowns.
After 11 seasons in the NFL, Gronkowski had total career earnings of over $70 million. Before becoming a professional athlete in the NFL, Gronkowski had a successful career in college football while playing for the University of Arizona from 2007 until 2009. He won multiple awards while playing college football and became an All-American his freshman year. In only two seasons of football, Gronkowski earned 1,197 receiving yards before being drafted into the NFL.
The Patriots selected Gronkowski during the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft as the 42nd pick for a receiver position. During his time with the Patriots, he formed a close bond with the team's legendary starting quarterback Tom Brady. The two men would go on to win four Super Bowl rings across two different franchises, including Super Bowls XLIX, LI, LIII, and LV. The duo is widely considered one of the greatest quarterback-receiver pairs to ever play in the league.
Gronkowski also won NFL leader in reeving touchdowns during the 2011 season and won the league's Comeback Player of the Year award in 2014. He is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and is the first tight end to lead in receiving touchdowns in the NFL. He played his last two seasons with the Buccaneers under the leadership of Brady.
