NFL legend Rob Gronkowski tweeted he feels "bored" amid suggestions he could come out of retirement to reunite with Tom Brady.
The former tight end is currently enjoying his second stint of retirement after he walked away in 2019 before Brady left the New England Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When Brady joined the Bucs in 2020, Gronkowski signed with the Florida franchise where he spent two seasons before once again calling it quits.
After hauling in 55 passes for 802 yards and six touchdowns last season with the Bucs, Gronkowski retired again following the playoff defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. He recently insisted ‘retirement is retirement’ and claimed he was enjoying being off the pitch - but speculation persists following Gronkowski’s habit of coming back.
Many believe Gronkowski could return whenever Brady calls on him, which is a very real possibility due to the Buccaneers’ offensive woes en route to a 6-8 record. Gronkowski is aware of those dynamics in the NFL landscape but still jumped on social media to tweet: “I’m kind of bored” - with a stoic emoji followed by a series of full stops.
Gronkowski surely understood what he was doing by baiting fans online, although he may have no interest in playing again. The 33-year-old can sign with any team, while he’s not limited by the usual rules and deadlines for those emerging from the reserve-retired.
He could certainly help Brady and the Bucs, who have laboured to sit atop the NFC South despite their losing record. Gronkowski’s addition - assuming he is fit and healthy - would certainly change the perception of the team’s chances as the postseason nears.
All three of the Buccaneers’ division rivals are one game behind with a 5-9 record, so Tampa Bay need to win their next three matches against the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons. However, Gronkowski is not concerned about his former team’s chances of making the playoffs and believes they can be serious contenders for the Super Bowl.
“I think they 100% make the playoffs,” Gronkowski said recently. “I mean, they would have to have a pretty awful run and lose their division games coming up in order not to make the playoffs.
“I see them making the playoffs for sure, and I think they can be the scariest team in the playoffs.”
During his Hall of Fame-calibre career, Gronkowski recorded four Super Bowl victories, four All-Pro nods, and is sixth in all-time receiving yards at tight end (9,286) and third in career touchdowns (92). He achieved over 1,000 yards receiving in four seasons of his career.
