Mark LoMoglio / Associated Press
First, a fourth Super Bowl title. And now a new contract.
It is safe to say that Rob Gronkowski’s decision to return to football after his retirement worked out well for him.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Gronkowski agreed on Monday to a one-year deal worth up to $ 10 million per NFL Network Ian Rapoport.
“I will continue to resign,” the end result said told reporters following the Buccaneers victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. “I’m a free agent for the first time in my career. I’ll definitely see myself coming back … I’m going to sink it in a few weeks and see where I am, but I do not know why.
It’s no surprise that the University of Arizona product, along with his former New England Patriots partner in crime, Tom Brady, returned to Tampa Bay, especially after being so dominant in the Super Bowl victory.
Gronkowski dragged six catches for 67 yards and twice in the win over the Chiefs and joined Jerry Rice as the only players with two or more receptions in multiple Super Bowls.
He and Brady also beat Rice and Montana’s NFL post-season record of 12 passes between a quarterback and a receiver with their 13th and 14th.
Gronkowski was already a sure Hall of Famer and probably the best tight end in NFL history when he retired after the 2018 season. During his time with the Patriots, he was a three-time Super Bowl champion, five times a Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro pick for the first team.
He had five seasons with double-digit touchdowns and four seasons of more than 1,000 receiving yards with New England and was a big part of the team’s dynasty.
While Gronkowski was not so dominant at the Bucs, he was still effective during the regular season of 2020 with 45 catches for 623 yards and seven touchdowns. That was a solid number for a tight end, especially in an attack with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown and just as many targets to go.
His days of being the NFL’s best tighthead prop are over, but Gronkowski is only 31 years old and comes with a head twist in the Super Bowl.
He will keep it going with the Bucs in 2021.