Rob Gronkowski facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rob Gronkowski

Gronkowski in 2019
No. 87
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(1989-05-14) May 14, 1989 (age 36) Amherst, New York, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:	265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:	Williamsville North (Williamsville, New York) Woodland Hills (Churchill, Pennsylvania)
College:	Arizona (2007–2009)
NFL Draft:	2010 / Round: 2 / Pick: 42
Career history
New England Patriots (2010) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020)
Career highlights and awards
4× Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI, LIII, LV) NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2014) 4× First-team All-Pro (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017) 5× Pro Bowl (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017) NFL receiving touchdowns leader (2011) NFL 2010s All-Decade Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team PFWA All-Rookie Team (2010) New England Patriots All-2010s Team New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team Third-team All-American (2008) First-team All-Pac-10 (2008) NFL records Most total touchdowns in a season by a tight end: 18 Most receiving touchdowns in a season by a tight end: 17
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 621 Receiving yards: 9,286 Receiving touchdowns: 92
Player stats at PFR

Robert James Gronkowski (born May 14, 1989) is a former American football player. He was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. People often called him "Gronk".

Gronkowski played nine seasons for the New England Patriots. Then, he played his last two seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Many people think he is one of the best tight ends ever. He won the Super Bowl four times. He was also chosen for the Pro Bowl five times. He was named a first-team All-Pro four times. He is part of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Gronkowski played college football for the Arizona Wildcats. In 2008, he was named a third-team All-American. He only played two college seasons. But he set team records for his position with 18.8 yards per catch and 1,197 receiving yards. The Patriots picked him in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He missed his junior year because of back surgery. He quickly became a key player for the Patriots.

Gronkowski was a great tight end because he was good at both catching passes and blocking. He set many NFL records. He was the first tight end to lead the league in receiving touchdowns, with 17 in 2011. He also has the most catches (23) and receiving yards (297) by a tight end in Super Bowl history. He holds the Patriots' record for total receiving touchdowns (79).

Early Life

Gronkowski was born in Amherst, New York, on May 14, 1989. He grew up in Williamsville, nearby. He is the second youngest of five brothers. His family has Polish roots. His father played college football for Syracuse University. He later started a business selling fitness equipment. Gronkowski's great-grandfather, Ignatius Gronkowski, was an Olympic cyclist. He held five world records in cycling.

Gronkowski played hockey until he was 14. Then he started playing basketball. He went to Williamsville North High School for three years. He played tight end and defensive end in football. He also played center in basketball and first baseman in baseball. In his junior year of football, he caught 36 passes for 648 yards and seven touchdowns. He also made 73 tackles and six sacks on defense. He was named an All-Western New York first-team player.

In 2006, Gronkowski moved to suburban Pittsburgh. He went to Woodland Hills High School for his senior year. He caught eight passes for 152 yards and four touchdowns there. He was named a SuperPrep All-American. He graduated from Woodland Hills in 2007.

College Career

After high school, Gronkowski went to the University of Arizona. He played for the Arizona Wildcats football team from 2007 to 2009.

As a freshman in 2007, he caught 28 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns. His 18.8 yards per catch was the best on the team. His receiving yards set a school record for a tight end. He was named a freshman All-American.

Gronkowski missed the first three games of the 2008 season. But he still caught 47 passes for 672 yards and ten touchdowns. Five of his touchdowns came in his first two games. He set school records for a tight end in catches, yards, and touchdowns in a single game, season, and career. He was named an All-American.

Before the 2009 season, Gronkowski was on the watchlist for the Lombardi Award. He missed his junior season in 2009 because of back surgery. This caused his draft position to fall.

Statistics

Professional Career

New England Patriots

2010 Season

In the first game of the regular season, Gronkowski caught his first touchdown pass. It was a one-yard pass from Tom Brady. In Week 10, he caught three touchdown passes from Brady. This made him the first rookie in Patriots history to do so. He was also the youngest rookie in NFL history to achieve this.

In Week 16, he caught two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills. He had his first 100-yard receiving game in the last game of the season. He finished his rookie year with 42 catches for 546 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was the first rookie tight end since the NFL-AFL merger to score 10 touchdowns. The Patriots ended the season with a 14–2 record. Gronkowski was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.

2011 Season

Gronkowski (#87) in a 2011 game against the Indianapolis Colts

Gronkowski had a great 2011 season. In Week 1, he caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady. In Week 2, he had two touchdowns. In Week 11, he caught two more touchdown passes, including a long 52-yard play. By this point, he had already passed his catch and yardage totals from 2010.

In Week 13, Gronkowski broke the NFL record for most touchdowns by a tight end in a single season. He scored three touchdowns in that game, bringing his total to 14. He ended the season with 1,327 receiving yards, breaking the NFL record for a tight end. He also finished with 18 total touchdowns, with 17 of them from receiving. Both were NFL records for tight ends. His 17 receiving touchdowns were the most by any NFL player in 2011.

Gronkowski was chosen as the starting tight end for the 2012 Pro Bowl. He received the most fan votes among all tight ends. He was also named to the All-Pro first team.

2011 Postseason

In the Patriots' first playoff game, Gronkowski caught three touchdown passes. He had 10 catches for 145 yards. In the AFC Championship game, he hurt his ankle. This injury was a big topic before Super Bowl XLVI. Gronkowski played in the Super Bowl, but he was not a major factor. The Patriots lost to the New York Giants, 21–17. After the Super Bowl, he had surgery on his injured ankle.

2012 Season

Gronkowski during the 2013 season

On June 8, 2012, Gronkowski signed a large contract extension. He started the season with touchdowns in his first two games. In Week 11, he caught two more touchdowns. During this game, he broke his left forearm. He became the third tight end in NFL history to have three seasons with at least 10 touchdown catches. He was also the first to do it in three years in a row.

Gronkowski returned to play in Week 17 and scored a touchdown. But he re-injured his left arm in the first playoff game. He needed another surgery and missed the rest of the playoffs. In 11 games in 2012, Gronkowski had 790 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He was still chosen for the Pro Bowl.

2013 Season

In 2013, Gronkowski had more surgeries on his forearm and back. He returned to play on October 20, 2013. He quickly had three games with over 100 receiving yards. In December, he suffered a right knee injury. He tore his ACL and MCL, which ended his 2013 season early. He played in seven games, with 592 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

2014 Season

In his first game back from knee surgery, Gronkowski caught a touchdown. He slowly returned to full strength. In Week 8, he had a huge game with nine catches for 149 yards and three touchdowns. In Week 14, he became the first tight end in NFL history to catch at least 10 touchdowns in four different seasons.

He finished the 2014 season with 82 catches for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Patriots finished with a 12–4 record. Gronkowski earned his third Pro Bowl nomination. He also received his second First Team-All Pro nomination. He won the Comeback Player of the Year award for his 2014 season.

2014 Postseason

In the playoffs, Gronkowski had seven catches for 108 yards and a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens. He also had three catches for 28 yards and a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. Gronkowski was a big part of the Patriots' 28-24 win in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks. He had 6 catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.

2015 Season

Gronkowski with then US President Barack Obama at an event to honor the team and their Super Bowl XLIX victory, at the White House on April 23, 2015.

In the first game of the 2015 season, Gronkowski caught three touchdowns. This was his third game with three touchdowns. He became the first player in NFL history with multiple three-touchdown games against the Steelers. In November, he suffered a right knee injury. Initial reports said it was not as serious as it looked.

After missing one week, Gronkowski returned. He caught four passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. This brought him to 10 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards for the season. In the playoffs, he caught seven passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the AFC Championship, he had eight catches for 144 yards and a touchdown.

Gronkowski was chosen for the Pro Bowl. He was also named to the AP All-Pro first team for the fourth time.

2016 Season

Gronkowski missed the first two games of the 2016 season due to a hamstring injury. In Week 8, he scored his 69th regular-season touchdown. This broke the Patriots' franchise record. In Week 10, he took a big hit to the chest. It was a pulmonary contusion, which kept him out of Week 11. In Week 12, he suffered a back injury that needed surgery. He was out for the rest of the season. He finished with 25 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns.

Gronkowski was on injured reserve when the Patriots won Super Bowl LI. This was his second Super Bowl championship.

2017 Season

Gronkowski started the 2017 season healthy. He hurt his groin in Week 2 but did not miss any games. In Week 5, he missed a game due to a thigh bruise. In Week 6, he caught six passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. This helped the Patriots win and come back from a 14-point deficit. In Week 12, he had two more touchdowns. This was his 16th game with multiple touchdowns, breaking a Patriots record.

In Week 13, Gronkowski had nine catches for 147 yards. However, he was suspended for one game for hitting a Bills player. The Patriots lost that game. The next week, he had a career-high 168 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He caught three passes for 69 yards on the game-winning drive. He also caught the two-point conversion. He reached over 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time in his career.

Gronkowski was named to his fifth Pro Bowl. He finished the 2017 season with 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns. He was named to the All-Pro First Team. In the playoffs, he had six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. In the AFC Championship game, he suffered a concussion. He was cleared to play in Super Bowl LII. He had 116 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the Super Bowl. The Patriots lost 33–41.

2018 Season

Gronkowski after winning Super Bowl LIII, 2019

In April 2018, Gronkowski announced he would return for the season. In the first game, he had seven catches for 123 yards and one touchdown. He had limited production in the next six games. He scored his second touchdown in Week 12. In Week 14, he had eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. He finished the 2018 season with 47 catches for 682 yards and three touchdowns.

The Patriots made the playoffs. In the Divisional Round, he had a 25-yard catch. In the AFC Championship, he had six catches for 79 yards. During Super Bowl LIII, Gronkowski had 87 receiving yards. The Patriots won 13–3. He set the record for most catches and yards by a tight end in Super Bowl history. His 29-yard catch in the fourth quarter set up the game's only touchdown.

Initial Retirement

On March 24, 2019, Gronkowski announced he was retiring from the NFL. He was 29 years old. He later said that the pain and injuries from his career had been very tough on his body and mind.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2020 Season

Gronkowski during the January 9, 2021 wild card game against the Washington Football Team

On April 21, 2020, the Patriots traded Gronkowski to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This reunited him with his former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Brady had signed with the Buccaneers a month earlier.

On October 18, 2020, Gronkowski caught his first touchdown with the Buccaneers. He had five catches for 78 yards in a 38–10 win. In Week 12, he had six catches for 106 yards. In Week 16, he caught two touchdowns. He finished the season with 45 catches for 623 yards and seven touchdowns.

Gronkowski's 29-yard catch in the NFC Championship Game helped the Buccaneers win. He caught two of Tom Brady's three touchdown passes in Super Bowl LV. The Buccaneers won 31–9. This gave him and Brady the record for most postseason touchdowns between a quarterback and receiver, with 14. Gronkowski became the first player to catch a pass in five different Super Bowls.

2021 Season and Second Retirement

On March 22, 2021, Gronkowski re-signed with the Buccaneers for one year. In the season opener, he had eight catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 2, he had two more touchdowns. In Week 3, he suffered multiple rib fractures and a punctured lung. This kept him out for seven weeks.

When he returned in Week 11, he had six catches for 71 yards. In Week 12, he had his first 100+ yard game of the season. In Week 13, he had two more touchdowns. This brought his total with Brady to 90 regular-season touchdowns.

Gronkowski announced his second retirement on June 21, 2022.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season

Postseason

Records and Achievements

NFL Records

• First tight end to lead the league in receiving touchdowns (2011).
• Most touchdown catches by a tight end in one season: 17 (2011).
• Most receiving yards by a tight end in Super Bowl history: 364.
• First tight end with over 1,000 career postseason receiving yards.
• Most career postseason games started by a tight end: 22 (tied with Pete Metzelaars and Travis Kelce).

Patriots Franchise Records

• Most career touchdown catches: 79.
• Most games with more than one touchdown: 16.
• Most games with over 100 receiving yards by a tight end: 26.
• Highest receiving yards per game average for a tight end in a season: 82.9 (2011).

Awards and Honors

NFL

• 4× Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI, LIII, LV)
• 4× First-team All-Pro (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017)
• 5× Pro Bowl selection (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017)
• NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2014)
• NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
• NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
• New England Patriots All-2010s Team
• New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team

NCAA

• First-team All-Pac-10 (2008)

Media

• 2021 ESPY Award – Outstanding Team (with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Organizational

• 2019 USO-Metro Merit Award

Football Legacy

Gronkowski changed the tight end position in football. He was seen as the perfect example of what a tight end could be. People at ESPN said it felt like the tight end position was made for his special talents. He combined power and grace in his playing.

Gronkowski was praised for being good at everything. He could catch like a wide receiver and block like an offensive lineman. These skills, both at a top level, made him a very complete tight end. He was big, strong, and agile. He was compared to NBA stars like LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal for his amazing physical gifts. Gronkowski was also known for his high football smarts. He was good at running different routes to get open.

His positive attitude was contagious. Coach Bill Belichick said Gronkowski's "unmistakably positive energy" would never be forgotten. Other players voted him the highest-ranked tight end five times in the annual NFL Top 100 Players list. He was also named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Many people think Gronkowski is the best tight end in football history.

He was also a fan favorite because of his fun personality. Gronkowski played with amazing athleticism and a fearless style. He always kept his youthful excitement and humor.

"Gronk Spike"

Gronkowski is famous for his exciting touchdown celebration. He brought back the "spike" and made it his own. His special "Gronk Spike" first happened on September 26, 2010. It became very popular with fans. Scientists even calculated that his arm moves 130 degrees when he spikes the ball. The ball leaves his hand at 60 miles per hour! He sometimes dances before he spikes the ball. In 2012, he even pretended to be a Queen's Guard before a touchdown celebration in London.

Outside Football

In July 2015, Gronkowski wrote a book called It's Good to be Gronk. It became a New York Times Bestseller.

Since 2015, Gronkowski and his four brothers have run Gronk Fitness. This business sells gym equipment with the "Gronk" brand.

Gronkowski has said that going out and having fun helped him play better. He said it made him want to work hard on the practice field. In 2012, after a big win, he was asked how he would celebrate. He answered in Spanish, "¡Yo soy fiesta!" which means "I am party!" This clip became very popular online. His company later trademarked the phrase.

In 2019, ESPN put Gronkowski on its "World Fame 100" list of most famous athletes. In March 2021, his first digital art collection (NFT) sold for $1.2 million.

In October 2020, ZooTampa at Lowry Park named a baby rhinoceros "Gronk" after him.

In October 2024, Gronkowski started Nuthouse Sports with his former teammate Julian Edelman. This company launched a podcast called "Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules."

Professional Wrestling

Gronkowski loves wrestling. He appeared at WrestleMania 33 in 2017 to help his friend Mojo Rawley. He hosted WrestleMania 36 in 2020. He won the WWE 24/7 Championship at that event. He held the title for a long time before losing it in June 2020. He later won a Slammy Award as Celebrity of the Year in WWE.

Film, Television, and Other Media

Gronkowski (right) on the set of Fox NFL Sunday in 2023

Gronkowski has been on the covers of many magazines, like GQ and Sports Illustrated. He was on the cover of the video game Madden NFL 17 in 2016. The cover showed his famous "Gronk Spike."

Gronkowski has appeared as himself in movies like Entourage (2015) and 80 for Brady (2023). He has also been in TV shows like Family Guy and The Simpsons. He was a co-host on Crashletes on Nickelodeon from 2016 to 2017. He also appeared on ABC's Shark Tank in 2017.

In 2017, Gronkowski helped produce and host a show called MVP. In this show, business owners showed their products to famous athletes. In July 2018, he joined Discovery Channel's Shark Week. He helped tag endangered tiger sharks in the Bahamas.

In 2019, Gronkowski joined Fox Sports as a football analyst. He also co-hosted Fox's New Year's Eve in New York. In 2020, he competed on The Masked Singer as "White Tiger." He also starred in a music video for Kygo. He was a team captain on the game show Game On! on CBS.

He co-hosted the 2022 Kids' Choice Awards with Miranda Cosgrove in 2022.

Charity Work

Gronkowski coaching military kids for a two-day football camp at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland in 2015.

Gronkowski started the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation. This foundation helps kids stay active in school and sports. It gives them tools to follow their dreams and live happy lives. The foundation gives money to sports programs that focus on health and community.

Gronkowski has also helped the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Patriots Foundation. He shaves his head every year for One Mission Buzz Off, which helps kids with cancer. He often visits children's hospitals and schools to support local charities. In 2016, he received an award from the New England Patriots for his charity work.

In 2019, he received the Merit Award from the United Service Organizations. He also received the Wish Hero Award from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This was for granting 14 wishes for children with serious illnesses.

Gronkowski and his partner Camille Kostek donated over 20,000 pieces of protective equipment to hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he donated $1.2 million to fix up a playground in Boston. He hoped it would encourage kids to play outside and be active.

In 2023, Gronkowski partnered with an animal health company. He wanted to raise awareness about valley fever in animals. He also met with members of the U.S. House of Representatives to talk about a vaccine for valley fever.

Personal Life

Gronkowski's long-time girlfriend, Camille Kostek

Since 2015, Gronkowski has been in a relationship with model Camille Kostek. They met at a Patriots charity event in 2013. They live in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Tampa, Florida.

In 2015, Gronkowski said he had not spent any money from his NFL contracts. He lived only on what he earned from his businesses and endorsement deals.

Selected Filmography

Film

Television

Music Videos

Images for kids

• 

  Gronkowski in 2013

See Also

In Spanish: Rob Gronkowski para niños

• List of NFL annual receiving touchdowns leaders
• List of NFL individual records
• Gronkowski (horse), a racehorse named after, and partly owned by, Rob Gronkowski