Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Rob Gronkowski

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Rob Gronkowski made an impact.

Rob Gronkowski, nicknamed "Gronk", is a retired American football tight end renowned as one of the greatest in NFL history. He spent nine seasons with the New England Patriots and two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, securing four Super Bowl championships. A five-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time first-team All-Pro, Gronkowski was also named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, solidifying his legacy as a dominant and impactful player.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

2001: Manumaleuna record

Brandon Manumaleuna set a record of highest drafted tight end out of Arizona, which Gronkowski broke in 2010.

2006: Last Tight End Rushing Touchdown

In 2011, Gronkowski scored a rushing touchdown on a lateral pass, marking the first such touchdown by a tight end since Bo Scaife in 2006.

2007: Plays for Arizona Wildcats

In 2007, Gronkowski attended the University of Arizona as a Pre-Business major and played for the Arizona Wildcats football team, recording 28 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman.

2008: College Football Season

In 2008, Gronkowski recorded 47 receptions for 672 yards and ten touchdowns for Arizona Wildcats and set school records for a tight end. He was named an Associated Press third-team All-American and All-Pac-10 first-team tight end.

2008: All-American Honors

In 2008, as a sophomore, Gronkowski earned third-team All-American honors while playing college football for the Arizona Wildcats.

2009: Missed Junior Season Due to Surgery

Despite missing his entire 2009 college season following back surgery, Gronkowski did not miss a single game or practice all season.

2009: Plays for Arizona Wildcats

From 2007 to 2009, Gronkowski played for the Arizona Wildcats football team.

April 2010: Belichick Comments

In April 2010, Coach Bill Belichick provided a scouting report on Rob Gronkowski, highlighting his size, attitude, and aggressive playing style.

July 25, 2010: Signed Patriots Contract

On July 25, 2010, Gronkowski signed a four-year contract with the New England Patriots worth $4.4 million, including a $1.76 million signing bonus.

September 26, 2010: Debut of the "Gronk Spike"

On September 26, 2010, Gronkowski debuted his signature "Gronk Spike" touchdown celebration after scoring his second NFL touchdown. The spike later became a fan phenomenon.

2010: NFL All-Rookie Team

In 2010, Gronkowski was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.

2010: Drafted by the Patriots

In 2010, Gronkowski was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the NFL draft as the 42nd pick.

2010: Exceeds totals from 2010

In 2011, Gronkowski passed his reception and yardage totals from 2010 in only eight games.

2011: Excellent plays during the 2011 season

During the 2011 NFL season, Gronkowski made several key plays, including a 10-yard touchdown pass in Week 1, two touchdowns in Week 2 against the San Diego Chargers, and consistent performance throughout the season, solidifying his impact on the Patriots' offense.

2011: Breaks NFL Record

In 2011, Gronkowski broke the NFL record for tight end receiving yards (1,327), and total touchdowns (18). He also received his first AFC Offensive Player of the Week award.

2011: Pro Bowl Nomination

In 2011, Gronkowski finished fifth in fan balloting at tight end for the Pro Bowl.

2011: Most Receiving Touchdowns

In 2011, Gronkowski set an NFL record by becoming the first tight end to lead the league in receiving touchdowns with 17.

June 8, 2012: Signs Contract Extension

On June 8, 2012, Gronkowski signed a six-year, $54 million contract extension with the Patriots, the largest ever for an NFL tight end.

2012: Injured Left Forearm

In 2012, Gronkowski broke his left forearm late in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during an extra point, and re-injured it in the first quarter of the Patriots' playoff game against the Houston Texans, requiring another operation and missing the remainder of the playoffs.

2012: Pro Bowl Selection

In 2012, Gronkowski was voted the starting tight end for the AFC at the Pro Bowl and named to the AP All-Pro first team.

2012: First Fumble Since 2012

In the opening game against the Houston Texans in 2018, Rob Gronkowski had seven receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown, he also fumbled for the first time since 2012.

October 20, 2013: Return to Play

On October 20, 2013, Rob Gronkowski was cleared to play against the New York Jets, marking his return after surgeries. He subsequently recorded three 100-yard receiving games in a six-game stretch.

2013: Contract Extension

In 2012, Gronkowski signed a six-year, $54 million contract extension, the largest ever for an NFL tight end. The contract included an $8 million signing bonus, but otherwise left the 2012 and 2013 seasons of his rookie contract intact.

2013: NFL Top 100 Players of 2013

In 2013, Gronkowski was ranked 25th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players.

2014: Pro Bowl and All-Pro Nominations

In 2014, Rob Gronkowski earned his third Pro Bowl nomination and his second First Team All-Pro nomination. His All-Pro nomination was unanimous. He finished the season with 82 receptions for 1,124 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns, helping the Patriots finish with a 12-4 record and win the AFC East.

September 10, 2015: Three Touchdown Performance

On September 10, 2015, in the Patriots' home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rob Gronkowski caught five passes for 94 yards and three touchdowns in the 28-21 victory. This made him the first player in NFL history with multiple three-touchdown-reception games against the Steelers.

2015: Comeback Player of the Year

At the 2015 ESPY Awards, Rob Gronkowski won the Comeback Player of the Year award for his performance in the 2014 season. He was also ranked 10th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

May 2016: Raiders scouts rated Gronkowski

In pre-draft evaluations revealed in May 2016, Raiders scouts had rated Gronkowski as the "best all-around player in the draft".

2016: Ron Burton Community Service Award

In 2016, Gronkowski received the Ron Burton Community Service Award from the New England Patriots for his charitable works and leadership in the local community.

2016: Pro Bowl and All-Pro Selection

In 2016, Rob Gronkowski was selected to the Pro Bowl and the AP All-Pro first team for the fourth time in his career. He led all non-quarterbacks in fan voting for the Pro Bowl and received 48 of 50 All-Pro votes at tight end. He was also ranked as the ninth-best player on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

February 5, 2017: Super Bowl LI Win

On February 5, 2017, Rob Gronkowski was on injured reserve when the Patriots won Super Bowl LI, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34–28. This earned Gronkowski his second Super Bowl championship.

December 19, 2017: Fifth Pro Bowl Selection

On December 19, 2017, Rob Gronkowski was named to his fifth Pro Bowl.

2017: Return from Injury and Continued Success

In 2017, Rob Gronkowski started the season healthy. Although he suffered a groin injury in Week 2, he did not miss further games. He continued to be a key player, breaking the franchise record for multiple touchdown games and earning his fifth Pro Bowl nomination.

January 2018: All-Pro First Team Selection

In January 2018, Rob Gronkowski was named to the Associated Press' All-Pro First Team, earning a $2.5 million incentive added to his contract during the 2017 offseason.

December 9, 2018: Last Touchdown before Retirement

On December 9, 2018, Rob Gronkowski caught his last touchdown before his initial retirement, it was against the Miami Dolphins.

2018: Return for the 2018 Season

In 2018, Rob Gronkowski announced his return for the season after meeting with coach Bill Belichick. He finished the season with 47 receptions for 682 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.

March 24, 2019: Retirement Announcement

On March 24, 2019, Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL after nine seasons, citing the toll of pain and injuries on his mental health.

March 26, 2019: Merit Award from United Service Organizations

On March 26, 2019, Gronkowski accepted the Merit Award from the United Service Organizations for his dedication to serving others through volunteerism.

April 6, 2019: Wish Hero Award

On April 6, 2019, Gronkowski was honored with the Wish Hero Award by the Make-A-Wish Foundation for granting 14 wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.

April 21, 2020: Trade to Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On April 21, 2020, Rob Gronkowski agreed to come out of retirement and was traded by the Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reuniting him with Tom Brady. The Buccaneers also received a seventh-round pick, while the Patriots received a compensatory fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

October 18, 2020: First Touchdown with Buccaneers

On October 18, 2020, Rob Gronkowski caught five passes for 78 yards and his first touchdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 38-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers. This was his first touchdown catch since December 9, 2018.

2020: Only Rushing Attempt

As of 2020, Gronkowski's rushing touchdown in 2011 remained the only rushing attempt of his career.

2020: Sixteen Games

In the 2020 season, Gronkowski played all sixteen games, a rare occurrence in his career due to injuries.

March 22, 2021: Re-signing with Buccaneers

On March 22, 2021, Rob Gronkowski re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year deal worth $10 million.

2021: Injury-Plagued Season and Touchdowns

During the 2021 season, Gronkowski experienced health challenges, including multiple rib fractures and a punctured lung in Week 3, which sidelined him for seven weeks. Despite this, he achieved milestones such as a 100+ yard receiving game in Week 12. He finished the 2021 season with 55 receptions, 802 receiving yards, and six receiving touchdowns.

2021: Donation to Charlesbank Playground

In 2021, Gronkowski donated $1.2 million to renovate the Charlesbank Playground at Boston's Charles River Esplanade.

June 21, 2022: Second Retirement Announcement

On June 21, 2022, Gronkowski officially announced his second retirement from professional football.

February 2023: Partnership to Raise Awareness About Valley Fever

In February 2023, Gronkowski formed a partnership with an animal health company to raise awareness about valley fever in animals.

September 2023: Discussed Valley Fever Vaccine Development

In September 2023, Gronkowski met with members of the United States House of Representatives to discuss the development of a vaccine for valley fever.