Robert Gronkowski, also known as Gronk, is one of the most iconic NFL players to play in the 21st century. He’s played most of his career for the New England Patriots, where his partnership with quarterback Tom Brady helped earn the team multiple Championship titles.
Origins
Robert Gronkowski was born on 14 May 1989. He was born in Amherst, New York. He is of Polish descent on his father’s side, who also played football as a guard for his alma mater, Syracuse University.
Originally, Gronkowski was interested in playing hockey and basketball before moving on to football. In 2007, he was recruited by the University of Arizona to play on the Arizona Wildcats football team.
Gronk Loves A Party Cruise
Before we deep dive into the life and times of this NFL legend it is important to recognize that above all else, he is a cruise fanatic, which in 2015 inspired him to combine his love of partying with his passion for getting out on the high seas.
So it was that Gronk’s Party Ship was born, hosting a wild 2,500 passengers who all got to spend a long weekend with Gronk and his family.
The cruise culminated in a giant party on a private island on the Bahamas, with all the cheerleader and bro atmosphere you could possibly imagine.
Now that you know about Gronk’s affinity for all things boat related, here’s a little look at how the rest of his life panned out:
NCAA Career
Stepping into NCAA football with the Arizona Wildcats program, Gronkowski was watched by pundits who wanted to monitor how his collegiate career would develop. As a freshman tight end, Gronkowski recorded 28 receptions for a total of 525 yards, which included six touchdowns.
This left him with an 18.8-yard reception average, which was enough to break University of Arizona records. That year, The Sporting News and Rivals.com, top publications in the NCAAF world, both named the tight end as an All-American on the freshman team.
Gronkowski’s numbers continued to grow as he advanced in his collegiate career. He was twice named the John Mackey National Tight End of the Week, named third-team All-American and All-Pac-10 first-team by the Associated Press.
Unfortunately for the promising player, his numbers were stunted in his junior year due to an injury that required back surgery. The tight end once favored as a Lombardi Award winner saw his value amongst pundits plummet during his absentee 2009 season.
NFL Career
Despite Gronkowski’s falling worth in his junior year, he stepped into the 2010 NFL Draft with a strong reputation. Pre-draft evaluations conducted by top franchises interested in the tight end revealed that he was considered one of the top nfl picks.
Robert Gronkowski was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft as the overall 42nd pick. He signed a four-year, $4.4 million contract with the Patriots that featured a $1.76 million signing bonus.
Gronkowski began the 2010 season strong and quickly disproved any doubts about his worth. In the pre-season of his debut with the Patriots, the tight end scored four touchdowns. He then scored a fifth touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals after catching a one-yard pass from quarterback Tom Brady.
This trend would continue on and become one of the defining factors of Robert Gronkowski’s future in the NFL-as well as the future of the New England Patriots and their star quarterback Tom Brady.
In fact, by the second season game of Gronkowski’s career with the Patriots, he caught three touchdown passes from Brady. Soon, the NFL’s Madden video game franchise introduced the ‘Rob Gronkowski Award’ for users whose tight end manages to catch three or more touchdowns in a game.
From the start of his debut 2010 season, Gronkowski set a precedent for breaking records with the help of Tom Brady. By the time he retired in 2019 after nine seasons with the New England Patriots, he’d helped the team take home three Super Bowl Championship titles.
Without Gronkowski, the New England Patriots franchise likely wouldn’t have soared to become the 2010s elite power team in the NFL. His 2019 retirement shocked fans and pundits, who considered the 29-year-old to be one of the greatest players in his generation.
Gronkowski cited physical and mental health considerations in his retirement announcement. However, after his single year of retirement, the tight end made headlines again when he was traded by the Patriots (who retained his rights during retirement) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers along with Tom Brady.
So far, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are performing well in the NFC South despite sharing a division with top-dog the New Orleans Saints. As the season continues, NFL picks from expert analysts may swing in favor of the Buccs if they can continue their winning streak. Gronkowski, partnered with Brady, will be a key component for the team’s offense and overall chances of surpassing the Saints.
WWE Career
Gronkowski’s retirement wasn’t entirely quiet. In March of 2020, the WWE announced that the tight end had signed on with World Wrestling Entertainment to continue his career in the ring rather than on the gridiron.
Gronkowski’s vibrant personality and physical talent coupled well with the WWE’s production goals. Here, Gronkowski could be ‘Gronk’, a comedic performer whose charisma would shine.
However, after hosting WrestleMania 36 and winning the 24/7 title, Gronk’s WWE exit was announced. The WWE granted a mutual release to Gronkowski, who was still technically contracted with the New England Patriots.
Shortly after, Gronkowski’s move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was announced.
Style & Personality
As mentioned above, one of Gronkowski’s nicknames (if not an alter ego) is ‘Gronk’. While the tight end broke record after record on the gridiron and eventually helped redefine what roles a tight end should fulfill, the player was equally known for his personality.
The ‘Gronk Spike’ is one way that Gronkowski made his name in the football world by personality rather than skill. The Gronk Spike is a way of celebrating a touchdown by throating the football down in the endzone. The Gronk Spike quickly became a cultural phenomenon in the football world.
In addition to the Gronk Spike, Gronkowski is known for his many endorsement and pop-culture crossovers. He’s trademarked his own sayings (‘Yo soy fiesta’, which translates to ‘I am party’), appeared on television shows ranging from Family Guy to Shark Tank to Shark Week, and even appeared on The Masked Singer.
Beyond Gronkowski’s forays into the world of pop culture, he’s also a proficient businessman. He’s sponsored major brands like Cheerios, T-Mobile, Visa, and Nike. He’s also spearheaded his own endeavors, like a New York Timesbestselling memoir titled It’s Good to be Gronk.
Gronkowski is also dedicated to giving back. His various contributions have earned him awards like the Merit Award from the United Service Organizations and the Ron Burton Community Service Award from the New England Patriots.