American · Amherst, New York · Born 14 May 1989Rob Gronkowski was one of the most dominant tight ends in NFL history, combining size and athleticism to win four Super Bowl titles with the Patriots and Buccaneers.
Robert James Gronkowski was born in Amherst, New York in 1989. New England Patriots selected him 42nd overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. His 11-season career — interrupted by a two-year retirement from 2019 to 2020 — produced 9,286 receiving yards, 92 touchdowns and four Super Bowl championships. He set the NFL record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end. His combination of blocking ability — he was considered the best blocking tight end of his era — and receiving production made him the most complete tight end in NFL history. He was selected to five Pro Bowls and named All-Pro four times. He averaged 8.5 yards per target across his career. His partnership with Tom Brady — at New England and then at Tampa Bay — was the most productive quarterback-tight end combination in NFL history. Brady and Gronkowski connected for 105 touchdowns across his careers. He came out of retirement in 2020 to join Brady at the Buccaneers and won Super Bowl LV. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023, his first year of eligibility. He was known for his personality — his dancing, his brother's social media presence and his overall fun-loving demeanour made him one of the sport's most popular figures.
Dominant Patriots/Buccaneers tight end, four-time Super Bowl champion
How They Played
Physical mismatch tight end with exceptional size, hands, and red zone presence who could line up anywhere on the field
Lasting Impact
Transformed the tight end position into a primary offensive weapon and is considered one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history
Career Honours
- 4x Super Bowl champion
- 5x Pro Bowl
- 4x First-team All-Pro
| Team | Period | Games |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 2010–2018 | 116 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2020–2021 | 28 |
American Athletes