Rob Gronkowski has had opportunities this week to commit to playing in the NFL again next season, and it is really no surprise that he has largely avoided the subject. Very few people would be surprised if Sunday’s game ended up being the last of the star tight end’s career, and one respected NFL reporter believes it will be.
During an appearance on WEEI’s “Mut & Callahan Show” Thursday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said he heard from trusted sources last year that Gronkowski was planning to retire if the New England Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
'I think win or lose he's done' – Florio talking Gronk with @MutCallahan. https://t.co/3jZz5AhRbX pic.twitter.com/J47EJPohsM
— WEEI (@WEEI) January 31, 2019
“Last year in Minneapolis as the Super Bowl was approaching, I kept hearing from people I trust that Gronkowski was going to retire if the Patriots won the game,” Florio said. “I think not winning the game caused him to take a step back.”
Florio added that he believes Gronk will retire following this year’s Super Bowl whether the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams or not, as family members are “hounding him” to call it a career before more injuries — particularly concussions — pile up.
Even one of Gronk’s brothers recently made it seem like there’s a legitimate chance the All-Pro could retire. While Gronkowski has proven he can still make a major impact during this postseason run, he’s nowhere near as dominant in the receiving game as he once was. Another championship ring would probably make his decision an easy one.
