Rob Gronkowski Jokes He’ll Return to Patriots if The Signing Bonus is Right

Rob Gronkowski is officially retiring as a New England Patriot. If it were up the owner Robert Kraft the great tight end could still be part of the Patriots one last time. Kraft asked Gronkowski to convert the one-day agreement he signed on Wednesday with the Patriots into a two day deal, so that he can suit up against the New York Jets in the game on Thursday. Gronkowski agreed to the deal, but with one condition. “Sure. What is the signing bonus?” Gronkowski asked Kraft. The exchange between Gronkowski, Kraft and others was one of highlights at his retirement ceremony. Gronkowski, after announcing on “FOX Sunday” this week that he will be retiring as a Patriots member, wanted to retire with the team in order to fulfill the wish a longtime friendship. Susan Hurley was a former Patriots Cheerleader and Charity Partner of Gronkowski, working with hundreds of charities in the Boston area through her CharityTeams. She said at the opening a “Gronk Playground”, in Boston, back in August she wanted Gronkowski to retire as Patriots Gronkowski told reporters that honoring Hurley’s wish was a “no-brainer” when Hurley passed away from cancer in early November.Gronkowski told reporters on Wednesday, “The entire Gronk persona and everything I am was based on the New England fans, my teammates, and their acceptance of me. “Just accepting and embracing who I am from the beginning, and letting my football game on the football pitch be what it is.””Gronkowski played the majority of his NFL career, 11 years with the Patriots. He won three Super Bowls in that time before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He retired in 2019 but chose to come out of his retirement to join Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay, before retiring again 2022. Kraft stated that Gronkowski was to retire as a Patriot once he had become eligible and elected into the team’s Hall of Fame prior to Hurley’s death. “I’m a Patriot for life. Gronkowski stated after the signing ceremony that “my career began here and needed to end 100% here”. “Gronk”, as he was known, quickly established himself in the locker room of the Patriots as a fun loving and touchdown-spiking personality. His personality — on and off the field — was as big as his biceps, and he always seemed to be the life of the party.Kraft said Gronkowski’s imprint on the franchise was immediate and lasting.Kraft said that Gronkowski’s legendary clutch performances, his large-than-life personality, and his connections with fans have truly made him an icon in New England. Gronkowski said he was flooded with memories of his time at the team headquarters. He said that beating the Seattle Seahawks, and earning his first Super Bowl Ring to end the 2014 season was his most memorable moment.”That memory and stories and memories will always stay with me, and I’ll never forget the guys or the stories in the locker rooms and on the practice fields. But the No. 1 memory is winning those Super Bowls, big time,” he said.Gronkowski established himself as possibly the NFL’s greatest tight end during his 11 seasons in the league. Gronkowski’s 92 receiving touchdowns rank third all-time among tight ends. His 9,286 reception yards rank him sixth among all tight ends. Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, he said he’s looking forward to joining Brady in the Patriots’ hall.But Gronkowski’s not expecting to get a statue like the quarterback.”Tom’s one of a kind,” Gronkowski said. “If you’re going to have one, then put me right in the endzone and make it tiny.The Associated Press contributed this report. 
2025-11-12 20:45:41