Super Bowl LV: Rob Gronkowski vintage Patriots mode in big game
While it was bittersweet watching Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers absolutely destroy the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, it had to be even more depressing for New England Patriots fans to watch Rob Gronkowski ball it out.
Forget the other No. 87, Gronk was the vintage Gronk Patriots fans remember bursting down seams and catching touchdown passes from Brady.
Then again, Gronkowski always comes up big in the big game when he’s healthy. His last moment in a Patriots’ uniform was him catching that big pass against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
Rob Gronkowski in vintage Patriots form in Super Bowl LV
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With a team-high six catches on seven targets for 67 yards and two touchdowns, Gronk simply came to play for his buddy in leading the Buccaneers to a 31-9 victory. Brady was Brady, but when he needed the big play he turned to his favorite big target.
"“Yeah, just great to see him – big-time players making big-time plays,” Brady said in his Super Bowl LV postgame video conference, as transcribed by NESN. “Just love what (Gronkowski and Antonio Brown, who also caught a touchdown pass) added to the team. You know, Gronk is an unbelievable player, teammate, talent, work ethic, commitment.”"
That commitment, after returning to the game following retirement, really showed this season as Gronkowski did exactly what the Buccaneers needed him to do. With the number of playmakers surrounding Brady, Gronk didn’t have to be dominant, except when it counted.
Rob Gronkowski not done playing football
Overall, Rob Gronkowski showed he still have some football left in him.
At just 31, Gronk caught 45 passes in 2020 for 623 yards and seven touchdowns. Those are statistics the New England Patriots would’ve loved out of the tight end position the last two seasons.
With free agency pending, could Gronk actually return to New England?
Well, don’t even get your hopes up, the big tight end has already committed to returning for another season, but loves the weather down there in Florida and that guy throwing him the ball is a major reason to believe he’ll just return to the Buccaneers.
"“Just coming down here to this journey then, I saw the opportunity,” Gronkowski said. “I saw it was a great opportunity. I love Florida. It was an opportunity to be in great weather in a T-shirt, shorts and sandals basically every day going to work. That’s my style. Just unbelievable. What a journey it’s been. What a story it’s been. What a start it was to the journey and what a finish to the journey this is. It’s for real. It’s the real deal.”"
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So, how many more seasons will Rob Gronkowski play?
As long as he’s healthy and feeling good, he may just play for a while…that is, while Tom Brady is still playing.