New England Patriots: 30 greatest players in franchise history

• 2x Super Bowl Champion (XLIX, LI)
• 4x First-Team All-Pro (2011, 2014-15, 2017)
• 5x Pro Bowl (2011-12, 2014-15, 2017)
• NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2014)
• NFL touchdown receptions leader (2011)

Look at you, Rob Gronkowski, Gronk spiking your way into the top-3 Patriots all-time. While I don’t think you are going to climb up much higher, you did it, bro, and I think it’s pretty cool, man. In case you haven’t been watching NFL football since 2010, Gronkowski has been arguably the best tight end in all of football.

Gronkowski first came to the Patriots as a second-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft out of the University of Arizona. While those legendary Tucson pool parties in the Pac-12 had to have been off the hook, what is even more impressive is Gronkowski’s skill set he brought to the tight end position in New England.

An elite blocking tight end, with the speed of a slot receiver and the route tree of an outstanding possession receiver, it has been easy to see why Gronkowski has taken the lead as the best tight end in the NFL from future Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. While Gonzalez will earn Canton enshrinement on his first ballot in 2019, we have to believe that Gronkowski has done enough to merit a bust in Canton already.

He has been a five-time Pro Bowler in his first eight seasons out of U of A. Gronkowski would experience his breakout campaign as a sophomore in the league in 2011. He led the league in touchdown receptions, earning both his first Pro Bowl nod and his first of four First-Team All-Pro designations thus far.

Though the Patriots came up short against the New York Giants in the Super Bowl in 2011, only three years later would Gronkowski get to hoist his first Lombardi Trophy…and party. Boy, did he party, as that would be on brand for The Gronk. He is the most bro of bros in the NFL today, but has wisely lived off endorsement money rather than NFL paychecks. Yes, he got paid to tell us not to eat Tide PODS.

In 2014, Gronkowski would win NFL Comeback Player of the Year, as the Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. Though he got hurt mid-season, Gronkowski would be part of the 2016 Super Bowl championship team in New England, as the Patriots overcame a 28-3 deficit to knock off the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI.

It remains to be seen how much more will Gronkowski will be playing in the NFL. He does succumb to injuries quite regularly and he does have a potentially lucrative career away from the gridiron. Whether that be in professional wrestling, reality television or the action star America needs right now, we must support Gronk in whatever he does now and post-football.

In short, Gronkowski is a top-two tight end in football today, alongside Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s probably done enough in his NFL career to merit being mentioned as a top-five tight end all-time alongside Gonzalez, Kellen Winslow and Antonio Gates. With more touchdown grabs than any player in Patriots history, it’s easy to see why Gronkowski is well on his way to being a first-ballot hall of famer.