Rob Gronkowski’s brother adds fuel to retirement rumors

The retirement rumor mill continues to whirl for New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski, especially now that his brother has chimed in.

Will he or won’t he?

That seems to be the second-most popular question on the minds of Patriots fans these days. It’s a distant second after their primary worry – will their team beat the Rams on February 3 and win the Super Bowl? – but it’s a legitimate concern nonetheless.

Rob Gronkowski started this whole saga himself at last year’s Super Bowl. Fresh off one of the most gut-wrenching losses of his career, reporters broached the question of his future playing plans. Never one to shy away from speaking his mind, Gronk addressed the media throng head-on.

"“I don’t know how you heard that, but I mean, I’m definitely going to look at my future, for sure. I’m going to sit down in the next couple weeks and see where I’m at.”"

The key words in that answer are “see where I’m at,” because that’s exactly what the 29-year-old did this past offseason.

After moonlighting as a professional wrestler in 2017, he continued to stir up speculation that he might be close to trading in the NFL gridiron for the WWE ring. Reports surfaced of a possible trade to the Lions that Gronk nixed by threatening to retire. Then those reports were confirmed, by none other than Gronk himself this past September.

"“Yeah, it happened, and Brady’s my quarterback. That’s all. Wasn’t going anywhere without Brady.”"

2018 was another trying season for Gronkowski, who battled injuries and ineffectiveness even when healthy for most of the year. He had the fourth-lowest yardage output of his nine-year career, and his total of 3 touchdowns tied a career low.

Nevertheless, Gronk has returned with a vengeance during the Patriots’ four-game winning streak over the end of the regular season and their first two playoff matchups.

He had just 1 catch for 25 yards against the Chargers in the divisional round, but he was an absolute terror in the run-blocking game. Then in the AFC Championship against the Chiefs, he came up clutch for Brady and the Pats, making 6 crucial catches for 79 yards.

So the question remains… will he return for another season in 2019, or will he call it quits after Super Bowl LIII?

According to his brother Chris Gronkowski, a former NFL player himself, Patriots fans might not want to hold their breath waiting and hoping for an answer. Because if “big bro” is to be believed, Gronk himself might not even know what he wants to do yet.

“I couldn’t tell you, and I don’t even think at this point that he knows what he’s going to do after the season,” the elder Gronkowski told TMZ Sports. “If you actually watched him play throughout the year, he was crushing people all year!”

There’s that trademark Gronkowski family enthusiasm, alright.

At this point, New Englanders are better off focusing their attention on the Los Angeles Rams and winning a sixth Super Bowl championship. Any updates or developments regarding Rob Gronkowski’s NFL future seem a long ways off… at least for now.

We’ll have to check in again with him after the confetti falls in Georgia next Sunday.