Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Rob Gronkowski would say no to returning for 2022 NFL season if forced to decide now

TAMPA, Fla. — Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski said Wednesday that while he will need some time to weigh a return for next season, if he had to made a decision right now, he would not return to play in the NFL in 2022.

«If they're like, 'Rob, you've got to decide right now, right this second if you're playing next year,' I would say no right now. 'It's two days after the season. I'd be like, 'No I'm not playing,'» an animated Gronkowski said to TMZ Sports. «You've gotta give it some time, you've gotta rest to see how everything goes, to see how everything plays out, how I feel. I just wanna heal completely, see where my thoughts are from there then.»

Gronkowski, who played on a pair of one-year deals over the last two seasons, said Monday, during his final Bucs availability for the season, that he would need about three to five weeks to decompress and assess how he's feeling before making a decision, and he echoed that in the interview, which had a playful tone throughout, as he was in good spirits.

«If I had to answer right now, it would, 'No,'» said Gronkowski, who was very upbeat throughout the entire conversation. «But you never know. In three weeks, it might be 'Yes!'»

When asked if he would have answered the same way in previous years the day after his season ended, Gronkowski laughed and said, «Yeah, probably.»

Health-wise, Gronkowski said Monday that he has no major injuries, but «minor bumps and bruises.» He did, however, miss five games during the regular season due to cracked ribs and a punctured lung. He also said Monday he wouldn't rule out a return even if quarterback Tom Brady doesn't. But considering he's never played with another quarterback in his 11-year career, and it's natural to assume Gronkowski