Rob Gronkowski named 2024 Boston Marathon grand marshal
Gronkowski is also this year's recipient of the Boston Athletic Association's Patriots' Award.
The 2024 Boston Marathon will once again have a familiar face as its grand marshal.
Rob Gronkowski, former Patriots tight end and four-time Super Bowl champion, was announced as this year’s grand marshal by the Boston Athletic Association on Tuesday.
Gronkowski, 34, is also this year’s recipient of the Patriots’ Award. Given annually by the Boston Athletic Association, the award is presented to someone who is “patriotic, philanthropic, and inspirational, and fosters goodwill and sportsmanship.”
The former Patriots tight end is being recognized partly for the work of the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation (which he founded). Among the foundation’s current projects is the construction of Gronk Playground on the Charles River Esplanade.
As grand marshal, Gronkowski will ride through the 26.2-mile course on April 15 in an All-Electric 2024 Honda Prologue, bringing the trophy to the finish line on Boylston Street prior to the arrival of the elite runners.
Gronkowski joins a list of notable former athletes, coaches, and owners with ties to Boston sports. Robert and Myra Kraft (along with the New England Patriots) were the inaugural recipients of the Patriots’ Award in 2002. Other recipients since that time have included Red Auerbach (and the Red Auerbach Youth Foundation) in 2003, late Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield in 2012, and David Ortiz in 2023.
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