Donovan McNabb and the State of Football
One of the greatest tight ends of all time is calling it a career for a second time — but maybe not the last.
On Tuesday, Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL via his social media channels.
The 33-year-old first retired in 2019 after winning Super Bowl LIII with the Patriots — claiming his many injuries over the years had taken a toll on his mental health — only to rejoin Tom Brady at Tampa Bay for the 2020 season.
The oft-injured Gronk only played 143 games over his 11-season career — but the seismic impact he made in that time should send him straight to Canton.
- Gronkowski finishes his career with 92 receiving TDs — third all-time among TEs and 12th at any position.
- His average of 0.64 REC TD per game is easily the most all-time among qualified TEs.
- The 17 touchdowns he caught in 2011 led the NFL and is tied for the sixth-most in any single season.
- He was a four-time first-team All-Pro, the 2014 Comeback Player of the Year, and a crucial part of four Super Bowl-winning teams.
Gronkowski has earned $70 million through his NFL contracts — but reportedly hasn’t spent any of it, choosing to live off endorsements with high-profile brands including Dunkin’, USAA, Visa, and T-Mobile.
Of course, Gronk’s latest retirement may not stick for long.
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, believes he’d make a second comeback if Brady needed his services — and the GOAT has already implied he’ll call again.
