Social Media Reacts To Rob Gronkowski’s Retirement
David Mercer - USA TODAY Sports
Former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski has called it a career for a second time.
NFL Insider Jordan Schultz first reported Gronkowski’s decision.
Gronkowski later announced the news over Instagram with a lengthy statement thanking his teammates and the Buccaneers organization.
Gronkowski played his first nine seasons with the Patriots before retiring before the start of the 2019 season. During his Patriots tenure, Gronkowski became arguably the best tight end in the game and was a part of three Super Bowl championships.
In 2020, Gronkowski unretired and decided to join Tom Brady’s Buccaneers. He would win his fourth Super Bowl ring that season, even scoring two touchdowns in the game.
Over his 11 professional seasons, Gronkowski set two Super Bowl records, most career receptions by a tight end, and most receiving yards at the position.
In the regular season, Gronkowski recorded 92 career receiving touchdowns, third-most by a tight end ever, most receiving touchdowns in a single season by a tight end (17 in 2011), and most seasons with at least ten receiving touchdowns by a tight end (5).
Former teammates, players around the league, media members, and other Gronk connections all shared their reactions over social media.
You can check out some of the best below.
Thank you my furry friend https://t.co/bBJeBXL1Lf
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) June 22, 2022
This better be the last time I say this !! Congrats on retirement @RobGronkowski !! Much love homie
— Kyle Van Noy (@KVN_03) June 21, 2022
I know no one cares about blocking, but everyone can agree that this moment from Rob Gronkowski was a thing of legend. pic.twitter.com/KTcchYYCjC
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) June 21, 2022
Forever the 🐐
Congrats on an amazing career & enjoy retirement, @RobGronkowski! pic.twitter.com/cali1RwabR
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) June 21, 2022
that one time Gronk dented the lombardi after laying down a bunt 😂 pic.twitter.com/7XiMOY8x5a
— Emerson Lotzia, Jr. (@EmersonLotzia) June 21, 2022
Gronk is the best TE ever…& it’s not really close. There are a rare few who’ve caught passes similarly well. There are a rare few who’ve blocked similarly well. But nobody’s done BOTH things at that level. Nobody. The whole job is the whole job—and that’s why he’s clearly the 🐐
— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) June 21, 2022
Final career statistics for Rob Gronkowski, retiring today: 621 catches for 9,286 yards and 92 touchdowns. Add in another 98 catches for 1,389 and 15 TDs in playoffs. In two years with Bucs, he had 100 for 1,425 and 13 TDs, plus another three scores in playoff games.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) June 21, 2022
Absolutely legendary career!! Congrats, Gronk! One of the best TEs of all-time. https://t.co/FawCCHXWg8
— Matt Cassel (@M_Cassel16) June 21, 2022
Congratulations on your roar-some career, @RobGronkowski! 👏
Happy retirement. 🎈#TheMaskedSinger pic.twitter.com/VzAEeDaOyV
— The Masked Singer (@MaskedSingerFOX) June 21, 2022
Rob Gronkowski's Career:
✅Led NFL with 92 rec TD from 2010-2021
✅Most rec TD in a season by TE (17 in 2011)
✅Most seasons w/ 10+ rec TD by TE (5)
✅Most career TD in Patriots history (80)
✅Most career postseason rec yds (1,389) & rec TD (15) by a TE
✅4x Super Bowl Champion pic.twitter.com/tN9KQlcLax— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) June 21, 2022
https://t.co/CyD9fgMbX6 pic.twitter.com/LzoNJy5KJv
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) June 21, 2022
Next stop: Canton @RobGronkowski pic.twitter.com/J7iBvZQ1l3
— NFL (@NFL) June 21, 2022
Gronk could do everything you need a tight end to do. Stretch the field, make contested catches, wide catch radius and BLOCK. He always found a way to make a play for @TomBrady
No need to beat around the bush. @RobGronkowski is the GREATEST TE EVER.— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) June 21, 2022
I’ll be telling the grand kids stories about the Gronk one day lol a legend!!
Congrats on a 🐐 career!! @RobGronkowski
— Logan Ryan (@RealLoganRyan) June 21, 2022
When I hear my boy Gronk retiring I had to to bring this back from 2015 🤣🤣🤣 they should have us singing this on Super Bowl halftime show this year bro 👀😭 congrats @RobGronkowski on an amazing career and see you soon 🙌🏿 pic.twitter.com/FdLBBr9QJJ
— David Ortiz (@davidortiz) June 22, 2022
Be careful, Tom doesn’t like to lose 🤣 https://t.co/wKw9cbr8ih
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) June 22, 2022
Posted Under: Patriots Twitter
Tags: Julian Edelman Kyle Van Noy Logan Ryan Matt Cassell Matt Chatham Rob Gronkowski Tom Brady
