Rob Gronkowski calls time on NFL career for the second time

Five-time Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski has hung up his cleats for the second time, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneer revealing the news on Twitter on Tuesday.

Gronkowski caught 55 passes for 802 yards and six touchdowns in 2021 despite missing five games due to injury. In two seasons at Tampa, the 33-year-old caught 100 passes for 1,425 yards and 13 touchdowns in 28 games. In 143 career games, Gronkowski has 621 receptions for 9,286 yards and 92 touchdowns.

"I will now be going back to my retirement home, walking away from football again with my head held high knowing I gave it everything I had, good or bad, every time I stepped on the field," Gronkowski wrote.

One person who doesn't think he'll stay retired is his own agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

"It would not surprise me if Tom Brady calls him during the season to come back and Rob answers the call," Rosenhaus told ESPN after the news broke.

"This is just my opinion but I wouldn't be surprised if Rob comes back during the season or next season."

Brady, for his part, quote-tweeted that report and added an image of a man patiently waiting on a phone call.

At age 29, Gronkowski retired after nine seasons and three Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots.

He was lured back into the game by the appeal of playing again with Brady when the legendary Patriots quarterback joined the Buccaneers before the 2020 season.

The two won a fourth Super Bowl together after the 2020 season but fell short of the goal in 2021, losing to the eventual champion Los Angeles Rams in the NFC divisional play-offs.