NFL legend and four-time Super Bowl champion, Rob Gronkowski, is currently retired and it’s unlikely that changes any time soon. But earlier this month, he did suggest that if he were to unretire, it would only be for New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll.
“Brian Daboll wants me on his roster, I know it,” Gronk joked on Up & Adams. “Brian Daboll. He can’t get me out of retirement but he would have the best chance to get me out of retirement.”
Although Gronk was pretty clear that the chances of him returning are slim to none, he did like the idea of playing alongside Darren Waller.
“That would be pretty wild. I always believe that having two tight ends — it makes the defense have the most difficult times,” said Gronkowski. “If you have two tight ends, I think that could make the offense unstoppable. And it’s rare if you go back to my days when I had another tight end with me, it just makes the offense prolific, unstoppable, it gives you so many more options in the run game and the pass game and play action.”
On Monday morning, as the Giants returned to team facilities for the final week of training camp practice, Daboll was asked about Gronk and his recent comments.
Although Daboll is close with Gronk, he said the unretirement talk should be taken with a grain of salt.
"He's a close friend"
Brian Daboll on Rob Gronkowski saying that he is the only coach that could lure him out of retirement: pic.twitter.com/XkDEzKu0rg
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) August 21, 2023
“I’m close with Rob,” Daboll said. “I have a lot of respect and admiration. I coached him for four years. He’s a good friend. We’ve talked — I’m not saying we’ve talked about that but he’s a close friend.
“I coached him up for four years. He’s a very productive player for you and really a good person. We’re from the same town (but) I wouldn’t read too much into (his comments).”
Gronk is obviously not returning to play for Daboll but leave it up to the charismatic 34-year-old to stir things up and create a buzz with a few simple half-joking comments.
Then again, in the words of Jerry Reese, never say never.
