Future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski announced his second retirement from the NFL on Tuesday, bringing an end to one of the biggest offseason free-agent question marks.
Gronkowski previously retired in 2019 while a member of the New England Patriots but came out of retirement in 2020 to join quarterback Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
In announcing his retirement, Gronkowski related a story on Instagram about a college assignment to write an essay about what job he wanted to do and where it would be located. Gronkowski wrote that his ideal location was ‘Tampa Bay’ because of the weather.
Now, after two seasons and another Super Bowl win, the player known for his fierce blocking and ability to out-muscle defenders for huge receptions is calling it a career.
“I completely forgot about writing this report until two years ago when I had the opportunity to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Gronkowski wrote. “And let me tell ya, the journey in Tampa over the last two 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,” he continued. “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.”
Gronkowski’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said that fans should not count the tight end completely out just yet. Gronkowski continues to have a good friendship with Brady, who, after announcing his own retirement at the end of the 2021 season, changed his mind and came back to play for Tampa Bay one more season, as reported by The Dallas Express.
“This is just my opinion, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Rob comes back during the season or next season,” Rosenhaus said in an interview on NFL.com. “It would not surprise me if Tom Brady calls him during the season to come back, and Rob answers the call. Just my opinion.”
Gronkowski only faced the Dallas Cowboys three times during his career. He had a total of 19 receptions on 20 targets in those three games, totaling 231 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Both scores came last year in the season opener that saw the Cowboys lose to Tampa Bay 31-29. Each was lead-changing, and the second, scored in the third quarter, put the Buccaneers in position to fend off a Cowboys comeback.
Gronkowski will finish his NFL career with 621 receptions for 9,286 yards and 92 receiving touchdowns. He ranks fifth all-time in tight end receiving yards, though Kansas City’s Travis Kelce has a chance to pass Gronkowski in total yards. In 2011, Gronkowski scored a rushing touchdown on his only career run to give him a career total of 93 TDs. He is third all-time for touchdowns by a tight end.
The Dallas Cowboys will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to open the 2022 season in a rematch of the 2021 season-opener.