Gronkowski is 29 and has played all nine seasons of his career with the New England Patriots.
Gronkowski will go down as one of the most talented tight ends of all-time, but injuries hampered his career.
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is retiring from the NFL.
Gronkowski is 29 and has played nine seasons in the NFL, all with the Patriots. He was drafted in the second round by the Patriots with the 42nd pick overall.
Gronkowski announced his retirement via Instagram on Sunday.
A post shared by Rob Gronkowski (@gronk) on Mar 24, 2019 at 2:53pm PDT on
"I will be retiring from the game of football today. I am so grateful for the opportunity that Mr. Kraft and Coach Belichick gave to me when drafting my silliness in 2010," Gronkowski wrote.
"My life experiences over the last 9 years have been amazing both on and off the field. The people I have meet [sic], the relationships I have built, the championships I have been apart of, I just want to thank the whole New England Patriots organization for every opportunity I have been giving and learning the great values of life that I can apply to mine."
Gronkowski reportedly mulled retirement last offseason, but ultimately decided to return to the Patriots for the 2018 season. Gronkowski was mum on retirement at the end of the 2018 season, and his agent later told reporters that Gronkowski would make up his mind during the offseason.
Despite a relatively short career, Gronkowski will go down as one of the most skilled tight ends and offensive players in NFL history. He finishes his career with 521 total catches (130th all-time), 7,861 receiving yards (104th all-time), and 79 touchdowns (28th).
Gronkowski was named to five Pro Bowl teams, four All-Pro teams, and won three Super Bowls with the Patriots.
Of course, a big part of Gronkowski's career has been his injuries. He played all 16 games just twice in his career (2011 and 2012) and missed significant time in 2013 and 2016, playing just seven and eight games, respectively.
Despite that proclamation, Gronkowski struggled in 2018, playing 13 games and catching 47 passes (his lowest for any season he played 10 or more games since his rookie year), 682 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Many noted that Gronkowski looked less explosive on the field in 2018.
According to Spotrac, Gronkowski earned nearly $54 million over the course of his career. He told Business Insider in 2018 that he has only spent his endorsement money, saving his career earnings.
Gronkowski has become more involved in pop culture over the course of his career and has been said to be eyeing working in Hollywood when he's done with football.
"Now its [sic] time to move forward and move forward with a big smile knowing that the New England Patriots Organization, Pats Nation, and all my fans will be truly a big part of my heart for rest of my life," Gronkowski's retirement message said.
Rob Gronkowski is retiring from the NFL at 29 years old after nine seasons.
However, there is already talk of a Gronkowski comeback, with his agent saying it wouldn't shock him if Gronkowski suited up for a few games late in the year should the New England Patriots need him.
The Patriots may look to the trade market to find more weapons for Tom Brady — but if they need reinforcements in December or January, the seeds for a Gronkowski comeback have already been planted.
Rob Gronkowski on Sunday announced his retirement from the NFL after an incredible nine-year career.
Though Gronkowski is just 29, he has battled numerous injuries and owns off-the-field interests that most likely swayed his decision.
But people are already talking about Gronkowski making a comeback — a fairly odd move so early in his retirement.
Drew Rosenhaus, Gronkowski's agent, said on ESPN's "Get Up" on Monday that if the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady called Gronkowski midway through the 2019 season asking for help, Gronkowski could be persuaded to come back.
Drew Rosenhaus on @GetUpESPN on Rob Gronkowski’s future: “If the team was struggling or they needed him at some point next year, and let’s just say hypothetically Tom Brady gave him a call and said ‘Rob, I need you.’ I wouldn’t be shocked if he came back to play a few games.”
King said Rosenhaus told him on Sunday: "You try as an agent to do everything you can for your clients, and I asked Rob if there was anything I could do for him, if there was anything I could ask the Patriots to make his job better. He said no, there's really not anything. Then I asked his dad, 'You sure he wants to give up $10 million this year?' He told me, 'Drew, he's got all the money he needs.'"
King wrote: "So that's it ... or is it? Rosenhaus said it wouldn't shock him if Gronkowski decided to come back sometime in 2019. We'll see."
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.The Patriots' offensive skill group is perhaps the weakest of the Brady era at the moment. Without Gronkowski, Brady's top receiving weapons are Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan. The Patriots have two talented running backs in James White and Sony Michel, but none of those four players is best as a No. 1 option.
With the best players off the board in free agency, there will be rumors of the Patriots looking to trade draft assets for better skill players. King mentioned the Cincinnati Bengals' A. J. Green or the New York Giants' Sterling Shepard as possible targets.
The Patriots are also the best team in the NFL at finding productive players late in the draft, so it wouldn't surprise anyone if they find a gem in the sixth or seventh round.
If they're in need of help late in the year, however, perhaps Brady will call his former top weapon to see if he'd be interested in returning. The seeds have already been planted.
Rob Gronkowski is retiring from the NFL with his entire career earnings: $54 million, according to Spotrac.
He was able to save this nest egg by following a simple money rule: keep it simple by saving surplus money.
Gronkowski previously told Business Insider he lived off only his endorsement earnings.
Gronkowski is in good company — some of the world's wealthiest people, like Warren Buffett and Mark Zuckerberg, are known for having frugal spending habits.
The New England Patriots tight end has a nice nest egg to fall back on: his entire NFL career earnings, which total $54 million after nine seasons, according to Spotrac.
Business Insider's Scott Davis previously reported that Gronkowski, 29, hadn't spent any of the money he made during his NFL career, only his endorsement earnings. He advised other players to follow a similar plan and watch their spending overall.
"I'd just say keep it simple," Gronkowski told Business Insider last year. "Keep it easy, and I'd say keep it simple. Get what you need to be comfortable, save the extra."
He continued: "It's a short career here in the league. The average is about three to four years, and when it's done, it's done. Be simple, manage it safe, so when it's done you've got a little base, a little foundation to live off."
Gronkowski's savings strategy isn't far from the financial habits of other successful millionaires and billionaires, many of whom also live relatively frugal lifestyles.
Some of the world's wealthiest people live very affordable lifestyles
During her research, she studied the characteristics most predictive of net worth and found that six behaviors, which she called "wealth factors," were related to net-worth potential, regardless of age or income. One of those is frugality: a commitment to saving, spending less, and sticking to a budget.
"Spending above your means, spending instead of saving for retirement, spending in anticipation of becoming wealthy makes you a slave to the paycheck, even with a stellar level of income," she wrote.
Consider Warren Buffett, who still lives in the modest home in Omaha, Nebraska, that he bought for $276,700 (in today's dollars). Richard Branson is famously frugal when it comes to buying luxury items, and several other billionaires, like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, have been spotted driving affordable cars — Hondas, to be exact.
Tyra Banks, who has an estimated net worth of $90 million, saved so much money that she was able to buy a house at 20 years old. Her accountants even told her she needed to spend money and had her set up a frivolous account.
Jay Leno, who has an estimated net worth of $250 million, had a strategy similar to Gronkowski's. He's said he always tried to hold two jobs, spending money from one while saving from the other. He saved all his money from hosting the "Tonight Show"— as much as $30 million a year — and spent only what he made from stand-up comedy.
When it comes to reining in your paycheck, it looks like Leno and Gronkowski are on to something.
Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL.
Gronkowski will go down as one of the most dynamic NFL players of all-time, but he's just as well known for his off-field antics.
Gronkowski has a love of partying, WWE, acting, and an overall outsized personality that makes it seem unlikely he'll disappear from the public eye any time soon.
Rob Gronkowski on Sunday announced his retirement from the NFL after nine seasons.
The news was not a shock as Gronkowski was reportedly mulling retirement over the last two years, but it was nonetheless surprising to see one of the game's biggest stars call it quits at 29 years old.
Gronkowski leaves behind a legacy as one of the game's most dynamic players both on and off the field.
While Gronk might have been one of the most unstoppable forces on offense in the entire league, he was just as well known for his outsized personality.
From a love of partying, public antics, WWE appearances, a fledgling acting career, and — somewhat surprisingly, given his public persona — a savvy approach to finances, here's a look at the life of Rob Gronkowski.
Rob Gronkowski announced that he is retiring from the NFL after nine seasons, all with the New England Patriots.
Gronkowski will go down as one of the best tight ends of all-time, with 521 total catches (130th all-time), 7,861 receiving yards (104th all-time), and 79 touchdowns (28th). He also won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, made four All-Pro teams, and five Pro Bowl teams.
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Gronkowski's career accomplishments don't necessarily tell the full tale of his impact. During his career, Gronkowski was one of the most unstoppable forces in all of football, and could have easily climbed higher on the all-time career lists if not for injuries and an early retirement.
Bill Belichick called Arizona football head coach Mike Stoops before the 2010 NFL draft to ask about Rob Gronkowski, according to a report.
Belichick reportedly asked Stoops if Gronkowski was an "a--hole," to which Stoops gave an emphatic "no" and encouraged Belichick and the New England Patriots to draft the tight end.
The Patriots selected Gronkowski, who before retiring this year, had one of the best careers in the franchise's history.
Rob Gronkowski's decorated career with the New England Patriots may have hinged on a single phone call before the 2010 NFL Draft.
Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday after nine seasons with the Patriots in which he won three Super Bowls, made four All-Pro teams, five Pro Bowl teams, and became the franchise leader in receiving touchdowns.
ESPN and The Ringer's Ryen Russillo said on Bill Simmons' podcast this week that before the draft, Belichick called Gronkowski's coach at Arizona, Mike Stoops, to ask him a simple question.
"He's like, 'Alright, what's the deal with this Gronk guy? This guy an a--hole or what?'" Belichick said to Stoops, according to Russillo.
"[Stoops] is like, 'No! He's a big teddy bear. He's unbelievable. You're gonna love him. You're gonna love having him around. All he cares about it is winning. He's absolutely everything you'd want in a guy.'"
Belichick reportedly responded, "Alright, cool," and ended the conversation. The Patriots ended up taking Gronkowski in the second round with the 42nd overall pick.
The story seems to follow one of Belichick's draft methods, which is apparently only taking players he likes.
Urban Meyer once revealed a conversation he had with Belichick about his roster-building methods, and Belichick revealed it to be remarkably simple.
"He said: 'At this point in my career, I want to coach guys I like. I want to coach guys I want to be around, and that's it, and I'm not going to coach anybody else,'" Meyer said of his conversation with Belichick.
Gronkowski, of course, proved to be everything the Patriots wanted. He was a dominant tight end of the field, but even with his known love of partying, Gronkowski never seemed to brush up against the "Patriot Way," which proved Stoops' analysis to be accurate.
In an era when Tom Brady is trying to play to 45 and believes he has the tools to help NFL players' careers last longer, Chicago Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara believes few players want to play that long.
Amukamara told Business Insider that he believes fewer players want to play 15-20 years.
Amukamara said more players want to make as much money as they can, win as much as they can, then get out of the league relatively early.
Amukamara believes the change is fueled by players realizing their earning power, listening to their bodies, and having more off-field aspirations.
On April 1, Tom Brady joined Twitter by stating he was going to retire.
No one believed it, of course — it was April Fool's Day.
But perhaps part of the reason why few people fell for it was that Brady, for several years now, has reiterated his desire to play into his 40s, often throwing around 45 as a target. At 41, he just won another Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, and while 2018 wasn't his sharpest season, his decline wasn't so great that him coming back for another year, at 42, would be inconceivable.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Brady's desire to fight time — he starred in a documentary titled "Tom vs. Time," after all — stands in sharp contrast to someone like Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots tight end announced his retirement in March, calling it a career after just nine seasons, at 29 years old.
Gronkowski suffered many injuries, so few were surprised, but among all-time great players, Gronkowski's career was not the norm.
According to Chicago Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara, more players could follow Gronkowski's lead. Though Amukamara — himself an eight-year veteran — spoke to Business Insider before Gronkowski's announcement, he said he thinks fewer and fewer players want to stick around the NFL for as long as possible.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view."I don't know if the goal right now is to play 15-20 years for a lot of guys," Amukamara said. "I think guys wanna bust their butt and do as much as they can and earn as much as they can and win as much as they can, but I also believe guys are listening to their bodies. They're checking the engine.
"I think guys are starting to value their relationships with their kids, and I think guys have a lot of aspirations off the field that they wanna accomplish. Even though football has helped them get there, yeah, I don't think guys just are trying to play 15-20 years."
Amukamara noted that in recent years, the NFL has seen talented players retire earlier than expected.
"Look at Calvin Johnson, right? He was still in his prime. Look at Patrick Willis. Even on the [49ers], if you remember Chris Borland ... He was supposed to be the guy since Patrick Willis left. I remember when we played against him when I was with New York, he picked us off twice, and I'm thinking, 'Wow this guy's about to be a player,' and then, come offseason, he's like, 'Yeah...'"
Borland played just two seasons in the NFL before retiring due to concerns about concussions and brain trauma. He has since become involved in helping former players and military veterans dealing with brain trauma.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Amukamara's comments came after Le'Veon Bell's holdout from the Pittsburgh Steelers. When Bell and the Steelers couldn't agree on a long-term contract, Bell sat out the year, fearing the workload the Steelers would give him before free agency, thus lowering his overall value on his next contract. He signed a four-year, $52 million contract with a reported $27 million guaranteed.
Amukamara said he believes part of players' desires for shorter careers comes with recognizing their earning power and utilizing it. NFL players have noted that NBA players have become empowered in the league, earning bigger salaries and using the threat of free agency to change teams.
"I feel like the NBA got it right so much earlier than us and then the fact like, they know their earning power. Look at what's going on with Anthony Davis! The fact that a player can ... ask for a trade and ask for out, I never heard of that. I'm not putting shame in anybody's game."
This offseason wide receiver Antonio Brown essentially forced his way off the Pittsburgh Steelers with the threat of becoming a distraction and not reporting. The Steelers traded him to the Oakland Raiders where he signed a three-year, $52 million contract with $30 million guaranteed.
"I think guys are really just taking their career into their own hands, and they're starting to realize their earning power," Amukamara said.
The trend may already be growing. On Tuesday, The Seattle Times' Bob Condotta reported that Russell Wilson told the Seattle Seahawks that he wants a new deal by April 15. Wilson is in the last year of a four-year, $87 million contract. Quarterbacks, the most coveted players in the league, could be the first position to realize their leverage broadly. Players will be watching how Wilson's demand plays out.
Amukamara's stance would seemingly run counter to what fuels Brady's longevity — better science and a better understanding of the body. Brady believes, through his knowledge of nutrition, exercise, and his body, he can help players play longer.
To Amukamara, players' understandings of their bodies and ability to maximize their earnings mean they don't have to play for a decade-plus to be set up for life.
"You wanna take care of your career, you know how much your earning power is, you know how fast your window is closing," he said. "Guys are just starting to see that and take advantage of it."
Rob Gronkowski left the Patriots with a final parting gift before he heads off into retirement — a baseball-sized dent in the team's sixth Lombardi trophy.
In a video posted to Twitter, Gronkowski's teammates recounted their adventure with Gronk while being celebrated ahead of the Boston Red Sox home opener. Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, and Stephon Gilmore were picked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, so before the game, the three players were warming up their arms.
As Gronk's teammates tell the story, it was then that the blunder occurred. Gronkowski playfully picked up the Lombardi trophy while Edelman was on the mound, and got in a batter's stance. His teammates doubted he would ever take a real swing at the ball, but when Edelman sent a pitch his way, Gronk adjusted into a bunting stance and made contact.
As a result, a baseball-sized dent was left in the Lombardi trophy.
You can watch Gronk's teammates tell the story below.
There's likely no other player in the Patriots organization that could get away with such an act without consequence, but for Gronkowski, denting the trophy that represents the team's year of hard work and sacrifice because he was partying too hard is pretty on-brand.
Further, with Gronkowski retiring, there's likely little more than a scolding in his direction that the team could give him anyways.
Thankfully for the Patriots, they have plenty of other, dent-free trophies they can use when necessary, and one that is now stamped with a dent that might as well read "GRONK WAS HERE."
"The trophy is special, not damaged," said Jason McCourty. "Now it has become vintage."
Without a doubt, Gronkowski, and now, the Patriots sixth Lombardi trophy, are both one of a kind.
Rob Gronkowski recently announced he would return to the New England Patriots this year, ending rumors of his retirement.
In a video, Gronkowski said he was feeling "super, super pliable" and called it a "game-changer," a comment that could be seen as a shot at coach Bill Belichick.
"Pliability" is at the core of Tom Brady's TB12 training method and work with Alex Guerrero, Brady's trainer who is said to be a source of tension between Belichick and the rest of the team.
Rob Gronkowski recently announced he would return to the New England Patriots this year.
While that alone is nothing controversial, Brady's work with Guerrero is said to be a contentious presence with the Patriots.
He was reportedly at the center of tension on team last season, and coach Bill Belichick eventually revoked some of his access to the team, saying players felt unsure about whether to work with Brady and Guerrero or Patriots staff.
It's fair to wonder whether Gronkowski's quip in the video was a small jab at Belichick. ESPN's Mike Reiss reported that a meeting this week "reopened lines of communication that had been cut off to this point" between the tight end and the head coach.
Rob Gronkowski on Tuesday left the door open to making an NFL comeback.
Gronkowski, who retired in March, held a press conference to announce a partnership with CBDMedic, a CBD-based ointment that he says he has used to recover since retiring.
Gronkowski said football wore him down and he needed time to recover.
He said if his mind, body, and spirit all feel ready to play down the line, then he will return, but he does not see it in the near future.
Rob Gronkowski on Tuesday left open the possibility of making a return to the NFL while promoting CBDMedic, a CBD-based ointment the former tight end says he has used to recover.
Speaking from a press conference in New York City to announce his work with the company, Gronkowski said that while he doesn't know when or if he would come back, it's possible in the coming months.
"I feel great, and I am pain-free," Gronkowski said. "I truly believe I can get to another level with my body, and I'm just in the first stage right now. And when that time comes down in the future, if I have the desire to play football again, if I feel passionate about football again, if I feel like I need to be out there on the field, I will go back to football.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view."But as of right now, that is not the case. It could be the case in six months. It could be the case in two years. It could be the case in three years. It could be the case in three months. But I truly don't see it in the foreseeable future, in, like, a week or a month."
Gronkowski said while he understands the persistent rumors about him making a comeback, he needed to let his body recover and be "selfish" in taking care of himself first.
"I want to be clear to my fans: I needed to recover. I was not in a good place. Football was bringing me down. And I didn't like it," Gronkowski said, growing emotional. "I was losing that joy in life. I was fighting through it. I knew what I signed up for, and I knew what I was fighting through, I knew I just had to fix myself ... I truly needed to be selfish for once in my life."
He added: "I am very satisfied with where I am in life right now. I truly believe going through those tough times, nine years, off the field, on the field, has brought me to this point. I believe I'm on the right path in my life."
Gronkowski said he wants to be an advocate for CBD and appeal to the major sports leagues to allow players to use CBD.
"I know, the NFL, players are dealing with that type of stuff. They're dealing with pain," Gronkowski said.
"It's time," he added, for sports leagues' governing bodies to reconsider their positions on CBD.
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Gronkowski officially retired in March, following a year's worth of speculation about his future. Almost immediately, there were rumors that he could come back late in the 2019 season if the Patriots needed him.
On Tuesday, Gronkowski even addressed his contract status, saying he believes he would have another year on his deal if he returned to the Patriots.
"I got one year left on my contract, so no matter what, [returning to the Patriots] is gonna have to happen," Gronkowski said, answering a question about whether he would still play for the Patriots if he returned to football.
"Like I said, though not in the foreseeable future of like a week or a month, but maybe down the road, whenever, I gotta have that desire again, I gotta have that passion, I gotta have that fire. I gotta have that sustainability to know that if I go back out there, I can sustain it, week in and week out," Gronkowski said. "I'm not gonna go out there to be beat the 'f' up and feeling like crap. That's not the way to live; that's not the way to play football."
Gronkowski stressed that he is physically ready to play football now, but that mentally and spiritually he is not interested. That could change down the line.
"Mentally wise, desire wise, it's not there. My mind, my soul keeps telling me, 'You need more time off.' When I feel like my body's top-notch, my soul, my mind, mentally, physically, I'm ready. Then I will go back to the NFL — if I ever get to that point."
Rob Gronkowski may have a future pitch for Tom Brady's "TB12 Method."
On Tuesday, Gronkowski held a press conference in New York City to announce he is partnering with CBDMedic, a CBD-based ointment that he said he has used in retirement to recover. Gronkowski and CBDMedic plan to release a line of fitness-inspired products for recovery.
Gronkowski said that while he has not yet pitched his former New England Patriots teammate on CBD, he would like to one day.
"I have not yet shared with Tom what I'm doing," Gronkowski said. "I know he's busy in camp, but I am excited to bring it to him. I am excited to talk about it, because I love talking about health with Tom. He is the healthiest guy in the NFL, hands down, at age 42. You can't deny that. You see what he's doing."
Gronkowski, who officially retired in March, said Brady is "a big reason" why he is currently "pain-free."
"His methods are unbelievable ... I'm blessed and lucky enough to be learning from a player like that."
Gronkowski said he wants to be an advocate for CBD and encourage major sports leagues to reconsider their policies on CBD. Gronkowski said he knows other players in the NFL are playing through pain and he thinks CBD could help them.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Gronkowski on Tuesday revealed that injuries had worn him down in recent years and that he had to take time off to recover. Gronkowski began following some of Brady's health and fitness methods in 2017, but said he was losing his joy in life.
"Football was bringing me down. And I didn't like it," Gronkowski said, growing emotional. "I was losing that joy in life. I was fighting through it. I knew what I signed up for, and I knew what I was fighting through, I knew I just had to fix myself."
Gronkowski said it's possible that he could make a return to the NFL, though he doesn't know when. He said he is physically ready, but not mentally or spiritually ready to play football.
"My mind, my soul keeps telling me, 'You need more time off.' When I feel like my body's top-notch, my soul, my mind, mentally, physically, I'm ready. Then I will go back to the NFL — if I ever get to that point."
Rob Gronkowski announced on Tuesday that after retiring from the NFL, he is partnering with CBDMedic, a CBD-based topical, and becoming an advocate for CBD.
Gronkowski sat down with Business Insider to discuss his next venture and what he has been up to in retirement, including losing weight, competing in other sports, and doing puzzles.
Gronkowski also discussed whether he'd feel the "itch" to return to football during the season.
Rob Gronkowski has maintained a relatively low profile — by Gronk standards — since announcing his retirement from the NFL in March.
On Tuesday, in New York City, Gronkowski announced his next venture — partnering with CBDMedic, a CBD-based topical, and becoming an advocate for CBD. In an emotional press conference, Gronkowski spoke about how football wore him down physically, emotionally, and spiritually, how he needed to take time off to heal, and how CBDMedic helped his recovery.
Gronkowski, of course, was peppered with questions about returning to football. He left the door open but said he did not see a comeback happening in the foreseeable future — like in a week or month, as he put it.
After his press conference, Gronkowski sat down with Business Insider to discuss his next chapter, how he's spent time in retirement, including losing weight, how he'd change the NFL, and whether he will feel the "itch" to play football again.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
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Scott Davis: During your press conference today, you spoke a lot about the idea of being pain-free and recovering. What has that overall process been like? Obviously, you found CBDMedic and started using that, but what else? Has it been rehab, is it just resting...?
Rob Gronkowski: It's everything overall. I mean, you just can't do one thing. One thing may help, but if you want to get to the level I wanted to get to, you gotta do many things. From your lifestyle, to how you work out, to what you eat — and not just going organic foods, more plant-based. Losing some weight off of me, which was nice, which felt good. And getting the right treatments, too, definitely, the right massages. Working with the right people. You gotta do it all. And also resting, too. I mean football, never rest, always go, go, go, go, go. Rest is also crucial.
Davis: Since you brought it up, Tom Brady said on his weekly radio interview that he thought you were down about 15 pounds. Is that accurate?
Gronkowski: About 15-20 pounds down. Really accurate.
Davis: How have you done that? You mentioned a more strict diet. Anything else?
Gronkowski: I always say more of a strict diet and also doing exercise too, but more of a strict diet definitely helped out to lose it. And intermediate fasting. That definitely helped shave some weight. Big time. I did it for like two weeks straight, just eating from 8 AM to 12:00 PM, 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM cut it off. And then some days, the longest was like 21 hours. But you feel good after, though. It feels good. I built up to it. It's not like I just jumped into it.
Davis: Have you talked to any former teammates, like offensive linemen or anything like that, guys who are dropping 60, 70 pounds?
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Gronkowski: Yeah, man, those guys lose weight like it's nothing. It's crazy. But I would say we were in a different ball game. They have a lot more weight to lose than what I had. I was just 260, but I was a solid 260. They had a lot more, like, easy weight to lose off, you know what I'm trying to say? So that's why you can [see them] three months later, they're like, whoa, what happened? "You transformed like that!" It's nuts.
Davis: Like [former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle] Joe Thomas. Have you seen him?
Gronkowski: Yeah, like him! It's pretty nuts. But it just shows they probably figured out a way, too. You gotta figure out a way. He probably feels, if you asked him, I bet you he feels way lighter, looser, quicker. Why else would he do that, you know? It just shows that us NFL players, you maintain such a level cause you gotta play at such a level. But after, after you're done, you find your ways.
Davis: So is everybody just walking around through the NFL season feeling awful, in pain, too heavy, etc.?
Gronkowski: No, I wouldn't say that. No, no. There's some guys, you see players out there that are light, that are loose.
I would say, you know — I'm not trying to speak on behalf of any players — but if you play for a while in the NFL, I would say at one point in time in your career that you're gonna feel like that, big time.
Davis: Going back to CBDMedic, I'm not trying to say you are, but if you wanted to return to football, could you use CBDMedic during the season or no?
Gronkowski: I'm pretty sure it's not open. It's not allowed yet in the NFL. I'm hoping, though, that they open their books to CBD, open the rules. I'm not 100% sure. But now that I endorse it and represent it and am in partnership with it and I've invested into it, I'm not sure that I can play until that ban on CBD is uplifted in the NFL. But it's all good. I'm chilling right now. I'm good.
Davis: Do you plan to talk to some of the major sports leagues about CBD? You want to be an advocate for it. Have you been talking to any of the sports leagues about it?
Gronkowski: Today was just the first step. We're taking it one step at a time and then we can go from there.
Davis: What was it like for you that you announced your retirement, and the next day, people were already talking about coming back? Was it frustrating?
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Gronkowski: I mean, it was frustrating at first. I'm looking at the positive of it. My fans love seeing me play out there, and I love my fans, too, and love that they want to see me back out there. You gotta appreciate that. But it is pretty nuts, man. It is pretty nuts to hear everyone 24/7.
Davis: [Chicago Bears cornerback] Prince Amukamara told me this, and I thought it was interesting. He thinks more and more players — and this was before you had retired, before Doug Baldwin did, or Andrew Luck — are gonna retire early. They're trying to maximize their earnings quickly, keep their body a little bit fresher, and pursue other interests beyond football. I was just curious for your opinion on that.
Gronkowski: It's all about what the person wants in their life. It's a rough game. We all know what we're signing up for, and it can definitely affect your life outside of football too, because of just the beating that game of football can put on you/
It's cool. It's good to see that other players — a lot of players struggle in the next life of after football. So it's good to see that other players see opportunities that they can take advantage of and they can go and do and that they can leave the game and still have something to pursue after.
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Davis: There are some people that say after retiring that you go, "Now what?" Did you have that?
Gronkowski: No, I didn't have any worries about that. I got a good family around me. Good support system. My father started a business, and he's been in business for 30 years. It was with fitness equipment and everything. I had my own Gronk Fitness line already. So my brother started his own company, and my other brother works for him. So I knew there's a lot of work out there. There is a lot of work out there, and if you just go look for it, you're going to find it.
Davis: Have you ever considered doing TV or commentary or anything like that?
Gronkowski: You know, a little bit. I really haven't looked that much into it. I wanted to stick with business stuff first, like CBDMedic obviously. Go put my toes full in with that. That's the passion that I'm feeling. It gives me that fire. But that can definitely be something down the road.
Davis: Jason Witten, who came out of retirement, said he thought it would be hard for you not to return to football because of the competitive fire inside of you. You talked a little bit about that during the press conference. Do you think that fire will be stoked just watching games this year? Or do you think it's pretty calm right now? You don't feel the itch to play.
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Gronkowski: No, I'm not feeling an itch at all to go. I just got to stay busy. You gotta stay busy. I mean, even when I'm relaxing, I'm staying busy in different ways. Like if I'm just chilling at home, it's not like I'm just chilling at home, like laying on the couch. I'm still trying to stay active. Maybe make some phone calls. I've been doing like a 750-piece puzzle when I'm at home just to keep going.
Davis: What's the puzzle?
Gronkowski: It's actually a picture of New York. It's a tough one. But I'll just stay busy and know that, in going in the business ventures, there's always something you can find to do. Always.
Davis: Michael Phelps was doing Peloton and that kind of satisfied his competitive desire. Do you have anything like that that you're doing?
Gronkowski: Oh yeah. I love fitness, and always competing. If I'm not working out, I'm usually doing an activity where I'm always facing my brothers or friends in basketball, swimming, cornhole, one of my favorite games out there. You name it, we're doing it. Volleyball, beach volleyball, whatever it is.
Davis: Will we ever see you on ESPN The Ocho, where they're playing backyard games and different types of games?
Gronkowski: I've heard about it. I don't know. You know, it could possibly be, down in the future. I don't want to rule anything like that out because that's pretty cool, backyard games.
Davis: Now that you've had some time away from football, is there any game or moment you're most proud of from your career?
Gronkowski: The special moment is the first Super Bowl victory. You put all that work in and finally get a Super Bowl victory, you just always remember those wins.
Davis: I was gonna ask you what you would do if you were NFL commissioner — what's something you'd like to see. I have a feeling allowing CBD would probably be on your list. Is anything else that comes to mind?
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Gronkowski: It's a well-organized league. I mean, obviously besides uplifting CBD [long pause] I'm not sure. I never really thought about that. Maybe just players having more of a voice. It's tough because [there is so much] turnover and everything. Just I would say players having more of a voice.
Davis: The NBA has talked about having a mid-season tournament, something else to play for. It would be pretty hard to do that in the NFL because you need to give players time to rest, but they are talking about cutting down preseason or eliminating it. Do you think some kind of mid-season or other tournament that the teams play for would work in the NFL?
Gronkowski: That's pretty wild. I mean, that'd be tough because it's been such an installed system already that's been working. You know, you gotta go for the Lombardi trophy and you gotta play all season long for it. It's just how it's been. I think it's a great set-up.
I would say that there should be open talks about the preseason games, definitely. Having four preseason games, maybe limit it down or something. I could definitely see something being talked about there.
Davis: Did you do anything on the first day of training camp when everyone else had to report? Did you take extra time to relax? Did you rub it in any former teammates' faces?
Gronkowski: No. No, I haven't. I really didn't think about it. It was just another normal day, which is a good thing. I'm glad that I'm not, like, sitting there like, "Ah, they're going to training camp." I'm happy for all my teammates and everything, and they're excited to go back. But I'm just in another venture in my life right now.
Rob Gronkowski this week revealed the extent to which football beat him down.
Gronkowski, who retired in March, said from a press conference to promote a CBD-based recovery ointment, that football was "bringing [him] down" and that he was not in a good place. He said he needed time to recover.
Speaking with NBC News on Wednesday, Gronkowski revealed a disturbing detail about life during football, saying he discovered he had pockets of liquid around his head.
"No lie, I felt my head, I used to have liquid," Gronkowski said. "It used to be thick, like, my head used to be thicker — a centimeter of liquid in some spots. And you'd be like, what the heck? You could put indents in my head."
Gronkowski said the pockets have since disappeared, that he gets treatments on his head and that he does things like puzzles to try to keep his mind sharp. The routines, of course, are geared toward trying to prevent CTE or other brain issues. He also said he used to experience mood swings.
"I was totally aware of what was going on with my body and my mind," he said. "And that's why I had to walk away."
Gronk has changed in retirement
Since retiring, Gronkowski has dropped 15-20 pounds, began eating cleaner, staying active, and venturing into the business world. Gronkowski told Business Insider that he doesn't have the "itch" to play football again, but he also hasn't shut the door on a comeback either.
"I gotta have that desire again, I gotta have that passion, I gotta have that fire," Gronkowski said at his press conference of a comeback. "I gotta have that sustainability to know that if I go back out there, I can sustain it, week in and week out. I'm not gonna go out there to be beat the 'f' up and feeling like crap. That's not the way to live; that's not the way to play football."
The odd trio popped and locked in step with the usual Los Angeles Lakers halftime performers in a hilarious video.
According to a representative from CBS, Williams, Gronkowski, and Corden were involved in Tuesday night's halftime festivities in connection with a new sports comedy series called "Game On!"
The Laker Girls have long been a staple of home games for the purple and yellow, but the classic Staples Center halftime dance squad got a bit of a twist Tuesday.
As LeBron James and his Lakers took on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Los Angeles, former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and tennis legend Venus Williams prepared for the halftime show of their lives.
The odd sports duo joined "The Late Late Show" host James Corden on the hardwood to dance with the Laker Girls in a spectacularly hilarious scene:
Williams wore an all-purple outfit, and the sleeves of her Lakers T-shirt and lining of her shorts were blinged out with gold glitter. She wore a matching headband with a bow as she jammed out and matched the rest of the Laker Girls step by step.
But the highlight of the seven-time Grand Slam champion's showing was her paired number with Emmy Award-winning stand-up comedian Ian Karmel in a matching 'fit.
Gronk, meanwhile, donned yellow shorts with a matching yellow cut-off muscle tank. Like Williams, the future NFL Hall of Fame inductee sported some golden glitter accents in his outfit. Corden also wore an all-yellow outfit with gold trim.
Williams, Gronkowski, Corden, and Karmel were involved in Tuesday night's halftime festivities in connection with a new sports comedy series called "Game On!" according to a representative from CBS. Williams and Gronkowski will serve as "team captains" on the show, which tasks the stars and guests ranging from famous athletes to comedians to partake in over-the-top physical challenges and answer sports trivia questions.
The New England Patriots shopped Rob Gronkowski in trades this offseason, according to a report.
When Gronkowski was informed of a potential deal, he reportedly resisted, saying he only wanted to play with Tom Brady and would rather retire than play for another team.
Gronkowski and the Patriots later restructured his contract, making it likely he stays in New England for the foreseeable future.
Despite rumors he was contemplating retirement and growing weary of the "Patriot Way," Rob Gronkowski reportedly did not want to play anywhere else when the opportunity arose.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, during the offseason, the New England Patriots shopped Rob Gronkowski in trades, but when Gronkowski was informed of a possible deal, he resisted.
Rapoport wrote: "When Gronkowski learned of his new reality, he strongly resisted. He informed the Patriots that he would rather step away from football and retire than play for another team, coach or quarterback. He told people close to him that he only wants to catch passes from Tom Brady."
According to Rapoport, any trade likely would have included doing a new contract for Gronkowski, and when he didn't cooperate, the deal fell apart.
Of course, despite weighing retirement, Gronkowski returned to the team, went through training camp and preseason, then re-worked his contract with the team. It's worth wondering how much of the tight end's threats of retirement and how much the Patriots' threats of trading him were negotiating tactics for a new deal.
Rapoport reported that the Patriots consider Gronkowski year-to-year. For now, it appears he won't suit up for another team. After a hauling in seven catches for 123 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Houston Texans in Week 1, the Patriots likely aren't in a hurry to move Gronk.
As the craze for crypto art continues, celebrities, billionaires, and influencers are getting in on the trend and selling some of their own.
NFL player Rob Gronkowski, rapper Ja Rule, Lindsay Lohan, and Mark Cuban, among others, have jumped on board. And Alex Atallah, the cofounder of NFT marketplace OpenSea, told Insider he expects to see even more celebrities joining the space.
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, have allowed artists to sell their digital work for thousands and even millions of dollars. They're gaining popularity as NFTs — which are generally digital assets that operate as a type of collector's item and can't be duplicated — are now a more than $1 billion market.
As for CEOs, Twitter chief Jack Dorsey sold his very first tweet from 2006 for millions and donated the proceeds to charity. And just this week Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has been a big promoter of cryptocurrencies, said he would sell a techno song as an NFT. But he later reneged, saying it didn't feel right. His girlfriend, Grimes, has made millions selling crypto art.
Billionaire and "Shark Tank" star Mark Cuban sold an NFT of a motivational quote, that read, "Nobody ever changed the world by doing what everyone else was doing - Mark Cuban."
As for the music industry, Shawn Mendes teamed up with Genies, which makes 2D avatars, to make virtual versions of his guitar and gold ring and sell them as NFTs, Rolling Stone reported.
Hoping to get rid of bad vibes from his Fyre Festival days, rapper Ja Rule auctioned an oil painting that once hung in Fyre Media's office as an NFT on a new platform Flipkick, and he offered to sign it for the purchaser.
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Other musicians have joined the trend, as well. The Kings of Leon was the first band to sell an entirely new album, titled "When You See Yourself," as an NFT, Rolling Stone Reported. And in a tweet, DJ Steve Aoki announced his first-ever NFT collection.
Dropping my first ever NFT collection next week! Lil teaser 🤫 this is the first piece in the collection. Visual design by @Antonitudisco. Opens LIVE on @niftygateway next Sunday 3/7 at 2PM ET. We’ll have limited edition packs, open editions and more so u will want to be quick. pic.twitter.com/LkUPjIGU81
In the sports world, Tampa Bay Buccaneer Rob Gronkowski, aka the Gronk, announced on Twitter he'd be launching an NFT collection of his very own. Four pieces of art commemorate his championship wins and one is a career highlight of him, according to his website. Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes sold millions of dollars worth of NFTs in just minutes, actionnetwork reported.
As for influencers, Paris Hilton sold a cat painting for $17,000, Decrypt reported. And Lyndsay Lohan sold her "Lightning" NFT for $50,000 and promised to donate the funds to charities that accept cryptocurrency, according to Decrypt.
Bitcoin is the future, happening now. Support my vision of empowerment by collecting this 1 of 1 NFT from @rariblecomhttps://t.co/0JvU0d1tNI
