It appears that Rob Gronkowski's second retirement from the NFL will be a permanent one.
Gronkowski initially retired after the 2018 season, before returning for the last two years as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This time around, the future Hall of Famer doesn't sound like he intends to revisit his decision after retiring for a second time last month.
"I'm done with football," Gronkowski told ESPN's Mike Reiss. "But [I] love the game, and definitely blessed with all the opportunities that the game of football has given me ... and relationships I've made, obviously here in New England for nine seasons and down in Tampa for two. But no, done with football and I'm stepping my feet into the business world ... the business ventures and just seeing what's out there and where I can find my place."
Drew Rosenhaus, Gronkowski's agent, told ESPN's Adam Schefter last month that he "wouldn't be surprised if Rob comes back during the season or next," specifically if Tom Brady places a call asking for him to return.
For his part, Gronkowski says he always will answer calls from the only quarterback he's ever played with at the NFL level. But the 33-year-old is certain that he won't be returning to playing again.
"Drew is the No. 1 football agent out there," Gronkowski said. "He loves anything that has to do with the NFL and he loves to see his players always be playing, but no. I would answer, obviously. I would obviously answer the greatest quarterback of all time and ask him how he's doing and tell him I'm doing good, but I wouldn't go back to football, no."
If he's truly finished for good now, Gronkowski will go down as arguably the greatest tight end in NFL history. In 11 seasons, Gronkowski caught 621 passes for 9,286 yards and 92 touchdowns. The four-time Super Bowl Champion caught 15 touchdowns in the postseason in his career, second only to Jerry Rice's 22.
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