Rob Gronkowski is a New England Patriots Hall of Famer, and it is not hard to see why. Not only was he an integral part of the organization’s Dynasty 2.0 in the 2010s, he also performed at the highest level throughout his nine seasons with the team.
When he left the Patriots after the 2018 season — one capped by his third championship — he did so as the owner of 15 NFL records. While some of those have been broken over the last seven years, his impact on the Patriots and the NFL as a whole is undeniable.
Breaking it down to a handful of moments is therefore a challenging task. This collection is therefore more of a “greatest hits” than a comprehensive journey through his oeuvre.
No. 1: Draft-day shenanigans
Despite questions about a back injury and even though he fell asleep during his pre-draft visit to Gillette Stadium, the Patriots forced their luck in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Trading up two spots to leap-frog the Baltimore Ravens, they secured Gronkowski with the 42nd overall selection. That moment, which saw him celebrate on stage with his entire immediate family, already set the tone for what was about to come.
No. 2: Raw power
Coming off a solid rookie season, Gronkowski fully broke out in Year 2 to establish himself as the best tight end in the NFL and a player with sky-high potential. There were multiple plays during his impressive 2011 campaign that can be picked as examples, but one stands out above the rest: a 49-yard catch-and-run against Washington that showed his rare blend of speed, power and elusiveness. It was one of the first times in his career that he showed that he was a different animal.
No. 3: Runaway truck
Even with Peyton Manning gone, Patriots vs. Colts was still one of the NFL’s best rivalries in the mid-2010s. And one particular matchup stands out in regards to Gronkowski: Week 11 of the 2014 season. He finished the game with a non-conspicuous stat-line of four catches, 71 yards and a touchdown. That score, however, was arguably the most spectacular one of his nine-year career: like a “runaway track,” as Al Michaels said on the broadcast, he ran over defenders on his way to turning a short third-down conversion into a 26-yard score. Of course, his performance that day was also remembered for something else.
No. 4: Out of the club
A true tight end, Gronkowski was a dual-impact player both due to his immense receiving prowess and his abilities as a blocker. His contributions in the second area oftentimes go undervalued, but they also define who he was as a player: a powerful and physical presence at the point of attack. Him blocking standout edge Terrell Suggs 1-on-1 in the 2011 AFC Championship Game is a prime example of that, and so is one of the most re-watched moments of his career, when he threw Colts safety Sergio Brown “out of the club” in 2014.
No. 5: Immaculate connection
A large part of Gronkowski’s success as a Patriots was not just his physical superiority over his opponents, but also his ability to be on the same page as his quarterback; it is why Tom Brady made sure to recruit him to Tampa Bay to close out both players’ careers. The chemistry between the two was on constant display for nine years, but if we had to choose one moment as an example — despite the eventual unsatisfactory outcome — it would be the 2015 AFC Championship Game in Denver. Going against a generational defense, Gronkowski converted two massive fourth downs in the late fourth quarter.
No. 6: Perfect send-off
Gronkowski’s Patriots story cannot be told without also mentioning the injuries he had to overcome, and his Super Bowl history reflects that. He was severely limited against the Giants in 2012 and unable to play against the Falcons in 2017; he also did have a profound impact on the game in his three other appearances, including, in Super Bowl LIII. That particular game put a perfect bow on his career with the team. Slowed by years of physical challenges, he still managed one last hurrah against the Rams: going up the seam as part of the New England’s famous Hoss-Y-Juke concept, he hauled in the biggest catch of the game — one that helped set up the only touchdown in the Patriots’ eventual 13-3 victory. It was Gronkowski’s final catch as a Patriot, and a worthy send-off.
What additional moments do you think defined Gronkowski’s career with the Patriots? Please head down to the comment section to share your choices with the community.
