Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski wasn’t afraid to mess with his former coach, Bill Belichick.
While appearing on the “FOX NFL Sunday” pregame show in his new gig as an NFL analyst on Sunday, Gronkowski made a particularly unflattering comparison for Belichick.
“On a daily basis, The Grinch,” Gronkowski told his co-hosts. “He’s always trying to take away the fun sometimes ’cause it’s all business. Taking away the fun and then here I come, you know, all jolly, I’m Santa Claus. Ho Ho Ho.”
It was reported that Gronkowski and Belichick had a strained relationship in 2018 and that Gronkowski wasn’t having as much fun in his final season before his retirement. While Gronk’s comments seem to be in jest, they may carry a little more weight than it seems.
Gronkowski retired this offseason and has said he would be open to a return but that nothing is imminent. In fact, at this moment, he doesn’t anticipate a return to the NFL.
“Like I said, I had to make that decision and I’m very satisfied and very happy with where I am with that decision,” he told Buffalo News’ Vic Carucci. “I even thought about stuff like that before I made that decision, how I would feel during the season and all that. And I knew if I made that decision, I can’t look back and that’s what I’m not doing — I’m not looking back. I knew I had a mission, to take care of myself to get myself back healthy so I can enjoy life and all that type of stuff again.
During his final season, Gronkowski logged 47 catches, 682 yards, and three touchdowns. In a winning effort in Super Bowl LIII, Gronk had six catches and 87 yards — his longest reception, a 29-yarder, put the Patriots on the goal-line for the game’s lone touchdown.
