Gronkowski, the best tight end of all time

The NFL saw one of its greatest ever players hang its boots on Tuesday, as Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski announced that he’s retiring from the league for the second time. After a full decade with the New England Patriots, Gronk returned to play with his old friend Tom Brady for two more years in Tampa.

Gronkowski, 33, is a four-time NFL champion, a 5-time Pro Bowler and 4-time First-Team All-Pro. Had he not suffered some major injuries during his career, he would surely have more accolades to show, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s the best tight end of all time.

Gronk was a superstar ever since he entered the league. It’s impossible to forget how much of a red zone threat he was in his first years with the New England Patriots, where it was nearly impossible to cover him alongside Aaron Hernandez when they played together at the beginning of the decade. Yes, we don’t really have to talk about Hernandez here, but you also can’t act like they weren’t a potent duo helping Tom Brady in his quest for more rings.

When Gronkowski wasn’t hurt, he played a major part in Super Bowl XLIX, helping New England beat Seattle and finally give Brady, his best friend, another title after ten years. He missed Super Bowl LI because of a back injury, but won the third ring of his career when the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII, a game where the most important play was made by him.

Gronkowski, who retired after the 2018 season, came back for two more years alongside Brady in his new home. Always with his best friend, always making plays, always dominating the league. There’s nobody at the position that ever came close to his level, even in the biggest games. He was unstoppable.

We’ve seen Gronk come back once and not even his agent discarded the possibility. If he decides that enough is enough and the NFL is not for him anymore, we were all lucky to witness him. After so many great years, he also deserves a happy retirement.