.jpg) Gronkowski in 2019 | |||||||
| No. 87 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Tight end | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | May 14, 1989 Amherst, New York, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Woodland Hills (Churchill, Pennsylvania) | ||||||
| College: | Arizona (2007–2009) | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 2010 / Round: 2 / Pick: 42 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Robert James Gronkowski[2] (born May 14, 1989) is an American former football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. Nicknamed "Gronk", Gronkowski played nine seasons for the New England Patriots, then played his final two seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Regarded as one of the greatest tight ends of all time,[3] he is a four-time Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI, LIII, LV), a five-time Pro Bowl selection, a four-time first-team All-Pro selection, and was selected to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Gronkowski played college football for the Arizona Wildcats, earning third-team All-American honors as a sophomore in 2008. Despite playing only two collegiate seasons, his 18.8 yards per reception average and 1,197 receiving yards were team records for his position. The Patriots selected Gronkowski in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft with the 42nd pick, after he missed his junior year due to back surgery, immediately becoming a major contributor to the franchise's dynasty.
A complete tight end, he was considered elite as both a receiver and a blocker. He set several NFL records, including being the first player of his position to lead the league in receiving touchdowns (17 in 2011). Gronkowski also has the most combined receptions (23) and receiving yards (297) by a tight end in Super Bowl history. He is ranked first in average yards per target (9.9) and average touchdowns per game (0.69) among tight ends.[4] Gronkowski also holds the Patriots franchise record of total receiving touchdowns (79).
- ^ Daniels, Mark (February 1, 2019). "Gronk the Greatest". New Bedford Standard-Times. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ "Pardon My Take" (Podcast). iHeartRadio. March 2, 2020. Event occurs at 50:42.
[It's] Robert James
- ^ Schwab, Frank (January 28, 2015). "Here's why Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in NFL history". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
Rob Gronkowski edges Tony Gonzalez as best tight end ever in PFT draft, March 25, 2019, archived from the original on March 25, 2019, retrieved March 25, 2019
Davis, Nate (March 24, 2019). "Opinion: Patriots' Rob Gronkowski retires as greatest tight end in NFL history". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
Wilbur, Eric (February 4, 2019). "What's Rob Gronkowski's legacy if this is truly the end?". Boston.com. Retrieved February 19, 2019....he'll obviously go down as the best tight end to ever play in the NFL...
Stuart, Chase (January 28, 2019). "Which Patriots Will Join Brady and Belichick In The Hall of Fame?". FootballPerspective.com. Retrieved February 19, 2019....the best tight end of all time at his peak...
Hurley, Michael (February 14, 2019). "Hall Of Fame Hypocrisy Continues With New Rob Gronkowski First-Ballot Debate". CBS – Boston. Retrieved February 19, 2019.There's been no more dominant tight end in the history of the sport.
- ^ Albert, Darryn (March 24, 2019). "This stat shows why Rob Gronkowski is retiring at the perfect time". Larry Brown Sports. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.