NFL icon Rob Gronkowski has sensationally claimed he believes partying throughout his career actually improved his performance as a tight end.
Gronkowski is currently enjoying his second stint of retirement after he walked away after the 2018 season, a year before Tom Brady left the New England Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When Brady joined the Bucs in 2020, Gronkowski came out of retirement and signed with the Florida franchise where he spent two seasons - winning Super Bowl LV - before calling it quits.
After hauling in 55 passes for 802 yards and six touchdowns during the 2021 season with the Bucs, Gronkowski retired following the playoff defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, who went on to win Super Bowl LVI. It brought to an end one of the finest careers in recent memory and one of the most dominant tight ends in league history.
In retirement, Gronkowski has certainly experienced plenty of different avenues, including sports broadcasting, movies, commercials and competing - and even winning a title in WWE. When contemplating his career, the 33-year-old suggested his childhood in Buffalo and partying with friends helped him become an NFL great.
“I just had a good time growing up. I'm from Buffalo,” Gronkowski said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “The Bills Mafia, they're tailgating.
“They're jumping off RVs into tables, breaking open. That's how I grew up.”
He added: “Well, I'm carrying my friends, you know, throughout the bar. I'm holding them up! I'm lifting. I'm curling them!
“They’re on my back, I'm jumping up and down! I'm dancing the whole time. Kinda like Austin Butler. I'm gyrating!”
The former Patriots and Bucs star recently suggested ‘retirement is retirement’ and claimed he was enjoying being off the pitch - but speculation persists following Gronkowski’s habit of coming back. However, he appears to be retired for good this time around.
During his Hall of Fame-calibre career, Gronkowski recorded four Super Bowl victories, four All-Pro nods, five Pro Bowls and is sixth in all-time receiving yards at tight end (9,286) and third in career touchdowns (92). The former tight end achieved over 1,000 yards receiving in four seasons of his career - but he recently revealed his biggest regret.
Asked about his biggest regret, Gronkowski told The Spun: “I would’ve started taking care of my body during the early days of my career. From when I was about 20 years old to 24 years old I kind of had that carefree attitude of being in the NFL, not taking care of your body, not getting proper sleep or nutrition.”
