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Rob Gronkowski to be inducted into Patriots Hall of Fame
"I’m a Patriot for life. My career started here, and 100 percent needed to end here."
Rob Gronkowski is the newest member of the Patriots’ Hall of Fame, the team announced Wednesday.
The big tight end becomes the 38th person inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining contemporaries like quarterback Tom Brady (2024) and wide receiver Julian Edelman (2025). Gronkowski landed the honor in his first year of eligibility, besting finalists Adam Vinatieri and Logan Mankins.
The tight end, who was a second-round pick of the Patriots in 2010 out of Arizona, played nine seasons with New England and had 521 catches for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns.
A major part of a team that ended up winning three Super Bowls, he capped his playing days with two seasons in Tampa Bay where he added a fourth championship ring to his résumé before retiring.
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Four years after he played his last game with the Buccaneers, Gronkowski signed a one-day contract to retire officially as a Patriot.
“I’m a Patriot for life. My career started here, and 100 percent needed to end here,” Gronkowski said last November after the ceremonial signing alongside team owner Robert Kraft.
“Rob Gronkowski’s performance on the field was extraordinary, but it was his infectious energy and consistently positive presence that truly set him apart,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft in a statement issued by the team. “He always brightened everyone’s day. He earned the respect of coaches and teammates through his work ethic, preparation and unselfish approach, while redefining what it meant to play his position.
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“Rob became a fan favorite almost immediately and remained the standard at tight end for nearly a decade. We look forward to celebrating his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame and, in time, the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
Gronkowski will be remembered as one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the game. He became the first tight end in NFL history to post three seasons of 1,000-plus receiving yards and 10-plus touchdowns (2011, 2014 and 2015).
In addition, his 32 100-yard receiving games are second among all tight ends. He finished his career ranked sixth among all tight ends with 9,286 receiving yards and third with 92 touchdown receptions.
The 6-foot-6-inch, 265-pounder was often at his best in the postseason. His 1,389 playoff receiving yards are fourth in NFL history and his 15 postseason receiving touchdowns are third.
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