Rob Gronkowski Might Be Considering Retirement after Super Bowl
After the Patriots' loss to the Eagles, the tight end told reporters he planned to take some time to consider his future in the NFL.
Photo via AP/Adrian Kraus
Rob Gronkowski finished the Super Bowl with two touchdown receptions, 116 yards, and doubts about whether he would return for another season.
At a press conference following the Patriots’ heartbreaking loss to the Eagles, the tight end fueled speculation that he would hang up his cleats during the offseason and said he needed some time to think through his plans.
“I’m definitely going to look at my future for sure,” Gronkowski said, according to WCVB. “I’m going to sit down in the next couple of weeks and see where I’m at.”
With just one catch for 9 yards, Gronk wasn’t exactly a factor during the first half of the Super Bowl. He shined in the second half, though, when quarterback Tom Brady found him in the end zone twice as the Patriots attempted to mount a comeback effort.
Gronkowski has been plagued with injuries during his eight-year career, and he has had surgery roughly nine times since 2009, according to ESPN. He sat out last year’s Super Bowl with a back injury and also made an early exit from this year’s AFC Championship with a concussion. He was cleared to play in Minneapolis just three days before Sunday’s big game.
The average NFL player suits up for just over three seasons, though Pro Bowlers like Gronkowski—who has been tapped five times—spend closer to 12 years in the league. Of course, the tight end is a key cog in the Patriots’ lineup, but it’s hard to blame a guy with such a lengthy injury history for considering a career change. Gronk’s huge hits have gotten him in trouble with both the NFL and his own anatomy, and there’s no shame in thinking about calling it quits to protect your health.
