The chances of Rob Gronkowski coming out of retirement are getting slimmer, according to Pro Football Talk. There is now a 20-percent chance the tight end returns to the New England Patriots in 2019, per Pro Football Talk. That’s down from a 40-percent chance earlier this year.
Gronk announced his retirement this offseason, and later explained in August that he was no longer enjoying the sport. He detailed the significant physical and mental toll the game was having on him, which showed up in concussions, surgery and significant injuries.
“I love all my fans. I love Patriots fans. I feel that love, but I want to be clear to my fans: I needed to recover. Football was bringing me down, and I didn’t like it,” Gronkowski told reporters in New York while beginning to cry. “I was losing the joy in life.”
He has teased that he might return to the NFL, ever since he retired. He has also explicitly said that he doesn’t anticipate a return this year. And until he files the official paperwork, Patriots owner Robert Kraft has claimed that he’s going to hold out hope for Gronkowski’s return.
It’s worth noting the 29-year-old seems intent upon maximizing his earning power and leveraging his star power to make money after his playing career. And his waffling on a potential return will keep him in the news cycle and make him all the more marketable.
In the meantime, Gronk has a gig as a studio analyst for FOX Sports. He’s also working as a spokesperson for a medical CBD company.
