Nine spectacular team seasons and individual success characterized Rob Gronkowski’s autumns with the New England Patriots.
Still, it was nine seasons with the same team.
Ultimately, it was a change of scenery and a fresh start that propelled the future Hall of Fame tight end to return from retirement and join Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“As a player, you always want to see what it’s like somewhere else,” Gronkowski told Boston WEEI radio through the Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “I thought about that before, definitely after playing nine years in the NFL, and I thought about it when I came out of retirement, too.”
“This is an opportunity to go see what it’s like elsewhere, to see what it’s like in the NFL on another team. There are so many players who bounce off so many different teams. I loved my time in New England, no doubt about it. But it was another opportunity that came up. “
Although the appeal and comfort of playing with Brady once again was undoubtedly appealing, Gronkowski insisted that there was no pre-existing plan for him to come out of retirement and join Brady beforehand.
“No, we never talked about it before,” said Gronkowski. “It just happened. (With) my retirement and him coming to free agency, he just lined up like this.”
Brady’s signing with the Buccaneers sent shock waves through the league and ignited the Bucs’ fan base. Gronk’s addition fueled excitement and anticipation. Gronk, 31, who dabbled in professional wrestling with World Wrestling Entertainment along with countless television concerts while retired, signed a one-yard deal with Tampa for $ 9 million.
Regardless of the motivating factors and how it all came about, Gronkowski has returned and is with a new team in a new conference.
Behind him, Gronkowski has three Super Bowl titles with New England, five Pro Bowls and 79 touchdowns among many accolades and impressive statistics. In front of him, well, that’s what all the excitement is about.
