Known for his impressive skills on the field, Rob Gronkowski is considered to be among the greatest players in the history of the National Football League (NFL). With four Super Bowl wins under his belt and a spot on the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2010s, he has proven himself to be a truly exceptional and decorated athlete.
Rob Gronkowski Bio Summary
Full name: Robert James Gronkowski
Date of birth: 14-05-1989
Age: 35 years old (2024)
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight: 268 lbs (122 kgs)
Place of birth: Williamsville, NY
College: University of Arizona
Draft: 2010 (Round 2, Pick 42)
Debut: September 12, 2011
Nickname: The Gronk
Profession: Former NFL player
Childhood & Education
Robert James Gronkowski, also known as Rob Gronkowski, was born on May 14, 1989, in Amherst, New York. He was raised in Williamsville by his parents Diane and Gordon, who was a former football player at Syracuse University. Rob has four brothers, Glenn, Dan, Gordie, and Chris, all of whom have had careers in professional football.
Until the age of 14, Rob’s top choice for a sport was hockey. However, once he reached 14, he transitioned to playing basketball.
Throughout his time at Williamsville North High School, he participated in football as a tight end, defensive end, and freshman kickoff specialist, as well as basketball as a center, and baseball as a first baseman. After his family relocated to Pennsylvania, he continued playing football at Woodland Hills High School.
During his time in high school, Rob Gronkowski was recognized with various accolades, such as being selected for the All-Western New York first-team, named a SuperPrep All-American, and chosen as an Associated Press Class 4-A All-State player. After graduating in 2007, he opted to enroll at the University of Arizona, having been recruited by multiple colleges.
Career
Gronk attended the University of Arizona, where he pursued a Pre-Business degree and was a member of the Arizona Wildcats football team from 2007 to 2009.
During his first year, Rob Gronkowski achieved an impressive average of 18.8 yards per reception, surpassing all other players on the team. As a result, he received recognition as a freshman All-American from both Rivals.com and “The Sporting News.”
In 2008, Rob Gronkowski received recognition as the John Mackey National Tight End of the Week on two occasions and was also selected as a first-team tight end for the All-Pac-10 team and a third-team All-American by the Associated Press. However, in 2009, he underwent back surgery and was unable to play during his junior year.
In the 2010 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected Gronk as the 42nd overall pick. He then signed a contract worth $4.4 million for four years, with an additional $1.76 million signing bonus.
In his debut season, the Patriots were crowned AFC East champions and Gronk received three nominations for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. He was also selected for the NFL All-Rookie Team.
During the 2011 season, he achieved a new NFL record for most touchdowns scored in a single season by a tight end while competing against the Indianapolis Colts. He was recognized as AFC Offensive Player of the Week and received the title of “Hardest Working Man” from NFL.com.
Although his team, the Patriots, made it to Super Bowl XLVI, they were defeated by the New York Giants. Unfortunately, Rob Gronkowski suffered an ankle sprain during the AFC Championship and an MRI later revealed strained ligaments that necessitated surgery after the Super Bowl.
In 2015, the Patriots emerged victorious against the Seattle Seahawks with a score of 28-24, earning them the title of Super Bowl XLIX champions. However, the following year in 2016, Gronk sustained a hamstring injury, and a pulmonary contusion, and underwent back surgery.
As a result, he was placed on injured reserve and was still recovering in early 2017 when the Patriots made a comeback and scored 34-28 against the Atlanta Falcons, securing the Super Bowl LI championship.
In January 2018, Rob Gronkowski was selected for the Associated Press’ All-Pro First Team, resulting in a $2.5 million bonus being included in his contract. In the subsequent month, the Patriots faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII, suffering a 33-41 loss.
However, the team emerged victorious in Super Bowl LIII, with a score of 13-3 against the Los Angeles Rams. Gronk’s impressive performance of 297 yards and 23 catches set a new Super Bowl record for a tight end in terms of both yards and catches.
At the age of 29, Rob Gronkowski declared his retirement on March 24, 2019. However, he made a comeback to the sport as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a year later. In June 2022, Gronkowski made a final announcement of his retirement.
Personal Life
In 2015, Rob Gronkowski and model Camille Kostek started a romantic relationship. In May 2020, the two made headlines for their donation of 1,600 masks to the Foxboro Fire Department to support first responders during the Coronavirus outbreak.
They were also featured together in Kygo’s music video for “I’ll Wait” and Rob has previously appeared in music videos for Katy Perry‘s “Swish Swish” and 3LAU’s “On My Mind”.
Net Worth
American football player Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski has a total worth of $45 million. In 2012, he inked a six-year contract with the Patriots, which was worth $54 million, and set a record as the most lucrative agreement ever between a team and a tight end in the NFL.
