Rob Gronkowski hired by Fox as new NFL analyst; will work Pats/Giants
Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has reportedly accepted a job to become an NFL television analyst for Fox.
Well that didn’t take long.
Just a little more than six months after he shocked the NFL world (and New England Patriots fans everywhere) by announcing his retirement from the league, Rob Gronkowski is employed once more. According to a report from ESPN’s Mike Reiss that cited a network announcement made Tuesday, Gronkowski is set to join the Fox Broadcasting Company as a football analyst.
Fans of Gronkowski won’t have to wait long to see him in action either, as he’s slotted to appear in the pregame show this Thursday before his old team and teammates host the New York Giants. That game will be televised both on Fox and on NFL Network.
It’s a surprise move for Gronkowski, but it actually makes a lot of sense.
Easily one of the most recognizable and personable figures in the NFL during his nine-year professional career, Gronk has increasingly found himself in the public limelight since he walked away from football last spring. He’s made numerous appearances at awards shows and high-profile celebrity events and fundraisers, and often in starring roles.
Longtime fans of Gronk also know that he’s well-versed in using his affability and charm in commercials and sponsorship deals. Those skills and traits should serve him well in this next venture as he transitions from the field to the studio.
Of course, this development is very much bittersweet for fans of the Patriots.
On the one hand, it’s wonderful to see Gronkowski embracing a new professional opportunity and stepping outside his comfort zone. It’s also further proof that he can do practically anything he wants in the world outside of actually playing football.
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On the other hand, it essentially eradicates any lingering possibility or hope that Gronk might have one day returned to the NFL and to the Patriots if the team needed him and/or if Tom Brady came calling.
While there’s certainly precedent of players making the transition to the media and then going back to football – just look at Jason Witten’s brief career as a color commentator for proof – Gronkowski has so far shown no signs or indicators that he desires to make an NFL comeback this season.