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 ever. He played 11 NFL seasons, nine with the New England Patriots and two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gronkowski is a four-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Pro Bowl selection, and four-time first-team All-Pro. He earned spots on 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

2007: Played for the Arizona Wildcats

In 2007, as a freshman, Gronkowski played for the Arizona Wildcats football team, recording 28 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns.

2008: Earned All-American honors

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

2008: Set school records at Arizona

In 2008, Gronkowski recorded 47 receptions for 672 yards and 10 touchdowns, setting school records for a tight end in single-game, single-season, and career receptions, yards, and touchdowns at Arizona.

2009: Played for the Arizona Wildcats

From 2007 to 2009, Gronkowski played for the Arizona Wildcats football team under head coach Mike Stoops.

July 25, 2010: Signed with the New England Patriots

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, Rob Gronkowski debuted his signature "Gronk Spike" touchdown celebration after scoring his second NFL touchdown. This celebration, characterized by a forceful spike of the football, quickly became a fan phenomenon.

2010: Drafted by the New England Patriots

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

2011: Caught first touchdown

In 2011, Gronkowski caught his first touchdown of the season and accounted for 86 of Tom Brady's franchise record 517 yards.

June 8, 2012: Signed contract extension

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

2012: Launch of "Gronk Flakes"

In 2012, PLB Sports began manufacturing "Gronk Flakes", a frosted cornflakes breakfast cereal endorsed by Gronkowski, with an initial run of 64,800 boxes priced at $3.99 each and available at Stop & Shop supermarkets in New England.

October 20, 2013: Return to Play

On October 20, 2013, Rob Gronkowski was cleared to play against the New York Jets after recovering from back surgery. Upon his return, he quickly regained his form, recording three 100-yard receiving games in a six-game stretch.

July 2015: Publication of "It's Good to be Gronk"

In July 2015, Gronkowski co-authored his memoir, "It's Good to be Gronk", with Jason Rosenhaus. Published by Simon & Schuster's and Derek Jeter's Jeter Publishing, the book became a New York Times Bestseller.

It's Good to Be Gronk

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September 10, 2015: Three Touchdown Performance Against Steelers

On September 10, 2015, in the Patriots' home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rob Gronkowski caught five passes for 94 yards and three touchdowns. This performance marked the third time in his career that he scored three touchdowns in a single game.

2015: Launch of Gronk Fitness

In 2015, Gronkowski and his four brothers started Gronk Fitness, a business selling Gronk-branded gym equipment and partnering with fitness companies like Life Fitness and Xtreme Monkey.

2015: Appearance in "Entourage" film

In 2015, Gronkowski appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in the film "Entourage".

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2015: Release of "Gronk's Hot Sauce"

In 2015, following the success of Gronk Flakes, PLB Sports released "Gronk's Hot Sauce".

2016: Co-hosting Crashletes

From 2016 to 2017, Gronkowski co-hosted Crashletes on Nickelodeon.

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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: Cover of Madden NFL 17

In 2016, Gronkowski was featured on the cover of the video sports game Madden NFL 17 published by EA Sports for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One and Xbox 360. The cover featured the tight end in his signature touchdown celebration, the "Gronk Spike".

February 5, 2017: Super Bowl LI Victory

On February 5, 2017, the Patriots won Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons with a score of 34-28, earning Rob Gronkowski his second Super Bowl championship. Although Gronkowski was on injured reserve at the time, he was still part of the team.

December 19, 2017: Named to Fifth Pro Bowl

On December 19, 2017, Rob Gronkowski was named to his fifth Pro Bowl. This recognition came after a season where he recorded 69 receptions for 1,084 yards, leading all tight ends in receiving yards.

2017: Appearances in Various TV Shows and Film Roles

In 2017, Gronkowski appeared in an episode of Family Guy entitled "Gronkowsbees", The Simpsons episode "The Town", and had roles in the films American Violence and You Can't Have It. He also competed in TBS's Drop the Mic and appeared on ABC's Shark Tank.

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2017: Endorsement of Tide Pods and PSA

In 2017, Gronkowski endorsed Tide Pods and partnered with the brand for a public service announcement discouraging children and teens from eating the laundry detergent pods following a viral internet challenge.

2017: Executive Production of MVP

In 2017, Gronkowski executive produced and hosted Verizon's Go90 original show MVP, where business owners pitched to athlete VIPs. The show had 36 episodes across two seasons.

January 2018: Named to Associated Press' All-Pro First Team

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

March 24, 2019: Retirement Announcement

On March 24, 2019, Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL after nine seasons at the age of 29. He cited the physical and mental toll of injuries sustained throughout his career as a key factor in his decision.

March 26, 2019: Acceptance of the Merit Award from USO

On March 26, 2019, Gronkowski accepted the Merit Award from the United Service Organizations, recognizing individuals dedicated to serving others through volunteerism.

April 6, 2019: Wish Hero Award from Make-A-Wish Foundation

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 during his professional football career.

August 2019: Advocacy for CBD oil use in sports

In August 2019, Gronkowski credited cannabidiol (CBD) oil for relieving his pain for the first time in a decade and advocated for sports governing bodies to allow players to use it for pain management.

2019: Analyst for Fox Sports

During his year-long retirement in 2019, Gronkowski joined Fox Sports as an analyst for its NFL programming, debuting on Fox NFL Thursday. He also co-hosted Fox's New Year's Eve with Steve Harvey in New York.

2019: Inclusion in ESPN's "World Fame 100" list

In 2019, Gronkowski was included in ESPN's "World Fame 100" list of most famous athletes in the world. The outlet estimated his endorsement income for the past year alone was $8 million.

April 2020: Appearance in Kygo's "I'll Wait" Music Video

In April 2020, Gronkowski and his partner Camille Kostek starred in the music video of "I'll Wait" by Kygo.

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April 2020: Gronkowski on coming out of retirement

In April 2020, Rob Gronkowski reflected on his decision to come out of retirement, emphasizing that he would only return to the game if he felt healthy and ready to play. He credited taking a year off as the best decision for his health and well-being.

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. The Buccaneers also received a seventh-round pick, while the Patriots got a compensatory fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

May 27, 2020: Team Captain in Game On!

On May 27, 2020, Gronkowski served as a team captain in the sports-based comedy panel game Game On! which premiered on CBS and ran for one season.

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October 18, 2020: First Touchdown with the Buccaneers

On October 18, 2020, Rob Gronkowski caught five passes for 78 yards and his first touchdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This touchdown marked his first since December 9, 2018, when he played against the Miami Dolphins.

2020: Sixteen Games Played in 2020 Season

In 2020, Rob Gronkowski played all sixteen games, marking a rare season where he remained injury-free.

March 2021: NFT card collection sold for $1.2 million

In March 2021, Gronkowski's first NFT card collection sold for $1.2 million.

March 22, 2021: Re-signed with the Buccaneers

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

2021: Donations and Renovations in 2021

In 2021, Gronkowski and Camille Kostek donated over 20,000 pieces of personal protective equipment to hospitals and fire departments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, he donated $1.2 million to renovate the Charlesbank Playground at Boston's Charles River Esplanade to encourage kids to be active.

2021: Injury-Plagued 2021 Season

In 2021, Gronkowski experienced a season fraught with health challenges, including multiple rib fractures and a punctured lung sustained during a Week 3 game against the Los Angeles Rams. This injury kept him sidelined for seven weeks, though he attempted an early return in Week 8. Despite the setbacks, he finished the 2021 season with 55 receptions for 802 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns, later contributing a touchdown in the Wild Card Round against the Philadelphia Eagles.

April 9, 2022: Co-hosting the 2022 Kids' Choice Awards

On April 9, 2022, Gronkowski co-hosted the 2022 Kids' Choice Awards with Miranda Cosgrove on Nickelodeon.

June 21, 2022: Second Retirement Announcement

On June 21, 2022, Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL for the second time.

February 2023: Partnership to Raise Awareness About Valley Fever

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

September 2023: Meetings with House Representatives to Discuss 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.

October 15, 2024: Premiere of "Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules" Podcast

On October 15, 2024, Nuthouse Sports launched the podcast "Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules," hosted by Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.

October 2024: Establishment of Nuthouse Sports

In October 2024, Gronkowski partnered with Julian Edelman and Assaf Swissa to establish Nuthouse Sports, formerly known as Coast Productions, an entertainment studio.