Social Media Reacts To Rob Gronkowski's Retirement

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.

“I want to thank the whole entire first-class Buccaneers organization for an amazing ride, trusting me to come back to play and help build a championship team. I will now be going back into my retirement home, walking away from football again with my head held high knowing I gave it everything I had, good or bad, every time I stepped out on the field.

“The friendships and relationships I have made will last forever, and I appreciate every single one of my teammates and coaches for giving everything they had as well. From retirement, back to football and winning another championship, and now back to chilling out, thank you to all.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rob Gronkowski (@gronk)

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 (@henrycmckenna) June 21, 2022

https://twitter.com/Pac12Network/status/1539324020927041541?s=20&t=l21vWWTbzN0Vdb18Rr3ebw

https://twitter.com/EmersonLotzia/status/1539324902519496704?s=20&t=l21vWWTbzN0Vdb18Rr3ebw

https://twitter.com/chatham58/status/1539326830188142594?s=20&t=XIfidFHJDf-WaxBjqSz0BA

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

https://twitter.com/MaskedSingerFOX/status/1539344724238155783?s=20&t=l21vWWTbzN0Vdb18Rr3ebw

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

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A post shared by Tom Brady (@tombrady)

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

https://twitter.com/RealLoganRyan/status/1539392464884183041?s=20&t=l21vWWTbzN0Vdb18Rr3ebw

https://twitter.com/davidortiz/status/1539642796713590785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/RobGronkowski/status/1539707136695050241?s=20&t=D8S8pvcVpuhJeGpnV3EKEw