Skip to main content
Join Now

Rob Gronkowski gives confounding response to question about NFL future

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh01/26/22griffin_mcveigh
On3 image
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski reacts on the sideline during a playoff win against the Philadelphia Eagles. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Looking to defend their Super Bowl win from last season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were an early bounce from the playoffs this season. The Los Angeles Rams came to town and won one of the more thrilling games of the year, leaving a few legendary players with retirement questions.

One of them is tight end Rob Gronkowski. He’s been through this process before, taking the 2019 season off before joining Tampa Bay. Gronkowski had all sorts of ventures while retired, mainly working in the media with the Fox NFL pregame show.

After the loss, Gronkowski was asked if he was going to be back next season playing football. He gave a confounding answer, not totally clearing up the air whether or not he will be in pads in 2022.

“If they’re like, ‘Rob, you’ve got to decide right now, right this second if you’re playing next year,’ I would say no right now. It’s two days after the season,” Gronkowski told TMZSports. “I would be like, ‘No, I’m not playing.’ … You’ve got to give it some time. You’ve got to rest. I would say to see how everything goes, how everything plays out.

“If I had an answer right now, it would be no. But in three weeks, it might be yes.”

Another factor that could play into the decision could be the status of Tom Brady. Gronkowski has refused to play for anybody else and with the future Hall of Fame quarterback weighing his options as well, the two could leave the league once and for all, together.

“It will factor in in a situation,” Gronk said of Brady’s decision. “He’s gotta do what he’s gotta do for himself and his family, no doubt about that. But then for myself, I’ve gotta do what I’ve gotta do what’s best for myself. See where I’m feeling and all that type of stuff. So then, once I make that personal decision, we’ll see what his decision is, and we’ll take it from there. You can’t really read it or anything until it happens. But every situation could basically be on the plate, for sure. But I’ve got to do what’s best for myself first.”

Gronkowski proved this season he can still be one of the best tight ends in the NFL. He caught 55 catches for 802 yards — his most in a regular season since 2017 — and six touchdowns. If he decided to hang up the cleats, it will be the end of a legendary career.