History of Rob Gronkowski in Timeline

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

1924: Great-Grandfather at the Olympics

In 1924, Ignatius Gronkowski, Rob Gronkowski's great-grandfather, represented the United States in cycling at the Summer Olympics in Paris and held five world records in the sport.

1977: Father plays for Syracuse

From 1977 to 1981, Gordon Gronkowski, Rob's father, played college football as a guard for Syracuse University.

1981: Father plays for Syracuse

From 1977 to 1981, Gordon Gronkowski, Rob's father, played college football as a guard for Syracuse University.

May 14, 1989: Robert James Gronkowski Born

On May 14, 1989, Robert James Gronkowski was born. He would go on to become a professional football tight end.

Others born on this day/year

2001: Manumaleuna record

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

2006: Move to Pittsburgh

In 2006, Gronkowski moved to suburban Pittsburgh and attended Woodland Hills High School for his senior year, recording 8 receptions for 152 yards and four touchdowns after initial ineligibility was overturned.

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.

2007: Graduation from Woodland Hills

In 2007, Gronkowski graduated from Woodland Hills High School with a 3.75 GPA and a 1560 SAT score.

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: Parents' Divorce

In 2008, Gronkowski's parents, Gordon Gronkowski and Diane Walters, divorced.

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: Queen's Guard imitation

In 2012, Gronkowski imitated a Queen's Guard, calling it "that little nutcracker dude", before his touchdown celebration while playing at Wembley Stadium in the United Kingdom.

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: Manufacturing of "Gronk Flakes"

In 2012, PLB Sports began manufacturing "Gronk Flakes", a frosted cornflakes breakfast cereal named after and endorsed by Gronkowski.

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.

February 2013: Forearm Infection Diagnosis

In February 2013, Rob Gronkowski was diagnosed with an infection in his forearm, leading to his third procedure on the forearm and a course of antibiotics.

May 20, 2013: Fourth Forearm Surgery

On May 20, 2013, Rob Gronkowski underwent a fourth surgery on his forearm to replace implanted hardware and perform tissue biopsies. Doctors were optimistic the infection had been resolved.

June 18, 2013: Back Surgery

On June 18, 2013, Rob Gronkowski underwent back surgery to address an injury.

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.

December 8, 2013: Knee Injury

On December 8, 2013, Rob Gronkowski suffered a right knee injury, tearing his ACL and MCL, during a game against the Cleveland Browns due to a hit from safety T. J. Ward, prematurely ending his 2013 season.

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: First Met Camille Kostek

In 2013, Gronkowski and Camille Kostek first met at a Patriots charity event.

2013: NFL Top 100 Players of 2013

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

December 2014: Publication of Erotica Novel

In December 2014, an erotica novel inspired by Gronkowski called "A Gronking To Remember", written by Lacey Noonan, was published.

A Gronking to Remember: Book One in the Rob Gronkowski Erotica Series

Check it on Amazon

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.

July 2015: Publication of Memoir

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

It's Good to Be Gronk

Check it on Amazon

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.

November 29, 2015: Knee Injury Against Broncos

On November 29, 2015, during a game against the Denver Broncos, Rob Gronkowski sustained a right knee injury in the fourth quarter and had to be carted off the field.

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.

2015: Launch of Gronk Fitness

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

2015: Appearance in Film Entourage

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

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2015: Living off Business Earnings

In 2015, Gronkowski stated that he had not spent any of the money he made from his NFL contracts and strictly lived off the earnings from his business ventures, endorsement deals, and appearance fees.

2015: Release of "Gronk's Hot Sauce"

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

2015: Tom Brady's thoughts

In 2015, teammate Tom Brady described Gronkowski as a unique and positive person who loves to have fun and is always true to himself.

2015: Relationship with Camille Kostek

Since 2015, Gronkowski has been in a relationship with model Camille Kostek, whom he met at a Patriots charity event.

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".

December 3, 2016: Placed on Injured Reserve

On December 3, 2016, Rob Gronkowski was officially placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disk sustained in a Week 12 game against the New York Jets, ending his season.

2016: Co-host of Crashletes

From 2016 to 2017, Gronkowski was a co-host of 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.

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: Appearances in Film and TV

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

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2017: Executive Producer and Host of MVP

In 2017, Gronkowski executive produced and hosted Verizon's Go90 original show MVP, where business owners pitched products to VIP athletes.

2017: Cameo at WrestleMania 33

In 2017, Gronkowski made a cameo appearance at WrestleMania 33 during the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal to help his friend Mojo Rawley.

2017: Partnership with Tide for PSA

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

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.

January 21, 2018: Concussion in AFC Championship Game

On January 21, 2018, Rob Gronkowski suffered a concussion during the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and was placed in concussion protocol.

July 2018: Appearance on Shark Week

In July 2018, Gronkowski joined Discovery Channel's Shark Week, helping tag endangered tiger sharks in The Bahamas.

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.

August 2019: Advocacy for CBD Oil Use

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

2019: Inclusion in World Fame 100

In 2019, Gronkowski was included in ESPN's "World Fame 100" list, with an estimated endorsement income of $8 million for the past year.

2019: Analyst for Fox Sports

In 2019, during his year-long retirement, Gronkowski joined Fox Sports as an analyst for its NFL programming and co-hosted Fox's New Year's Eve with Steve Harvey.

April 2020: Starred in Kygo's Music Video

In April 2020, Gronkowski and 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, stating that taking a year off was 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, 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.

May 27, 2020: Premiere of Game On!

On May 27, 2020, Game On!, a sports-based comedy panel game show on CBS, premiered with Gronkowski serving as team captain.

June 1, 2020: Loss of WWE 24/7 Championship

On June 1, 2020, after being the longest-reigning champion, Gronkowski lost the WWE 24/7 Championship to R-Truth.

October 2020: Rhino Named After Gronkowski

In October 2020, ZooTampa at Lowry Park named their newborn greater one-horned rhino "Gronk" to celebrate Gronkowski joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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 2021: NFT Card Collection Sale

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

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.

April 9, 2022: Co-hosted 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 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.

October 15, 2024: Podcast "Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules" premiered.

On October 15, 2024, Nuthouse Sports premiered "Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules," the podcast starring 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, an entertainment studio that launched the podcast "Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules" on October 15, 2024.