Rob Gronkowski: ‘I’m Not Really Retired’

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Rob Gronkowski retired from football on June 21.

While Rob Gronkowski doubles down again on his retirement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and NFL, he also claims to be “not really retired yet” in a recent interview with ESPN.

“I don’t really want to retire,” Gronkowski told ESPN’s Jenna Laine on Wednesday, July 20. “It’s just a football game. … It’s not from life. … When people start to retire, they start dying. “

Gronkowski, 33, plans to continue operating by growing his off-field businesses when he retires from football, which began following his June 21 retirement announcement. Laine spoke to him during a commercial shoot for USAA, which is ironically a retirement products company.

“It can certainly be a scary road,” Gronkowski told Laine. “I mean, I wasn’t really scared about it – I was prepared. I feel there are a lot of business opportunities. I knew I wanted to get into the business world.”

Gronkowski also works with his family’s companies – Ice Shaker, run by his brother, Chris Gronkowski, and G&G Fitness Equipment run by his father, Gordie Gronkowski. It also helps the superstar stay in shape as he has appeared in workout videos on social media.

“They take their work ethic from the football field and take it to the next chapter of your life, and that’s what you have to do,” Gronkowski told Laine. “You can’t be comfortable if you want to be successful in the next chapter of your life. You have to go all out, and you have to sharpen. “

Gronkowski on Tom Brady Calling

Gronkowski told Victor Oqeundo on “Good Morning America” ​​that he will take a call from longtime teammate and Bucs full-back Tom Brady. However, Gronkowski reiterated that it will not lead to another comeback.

“I would say ‘what’s the matter’ but, no, I’m not going back to football. I’m ready,” Gronkowski told Strahan. “Obviously I will answer. He is the greatest player of all time and we have a great relationship on and off the pitch, we are good friends.”

Brady famously convinced Gronkowski to retire in 2020 to join the Bucs after sitting out the 2019 season. Gronkowski retired in 2019 after an injury-filled tenure with the New England Patriots. As Laine noted, Gronkowski endured nine surgeries in his first nine NFL seasons.

Gronkowski remains healthy in 2020, and he helped the Bucs win Super Bowl LV. Injuries hit Gronkowski again in 2021 with rib and back injuries, plus a punctured lung. He completed 100 touchdowns at 1,425 yards and 13 touchdowns in his two years with the Bucs.

Gronkowski Going Out Healthy?

ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported on July 13 that “Gronk wasn’t feeling well” on the show “Keyshawn, JWill and Max,” but Gronkowski told Laine he was “feeling really good.”

“It was my decision to stop. It’s definitely time. It just feels right,” Gronkowski told Laine. “I feel good. I feel really good.”

Gronkowski also told Laine that he’s satisfied with what he’s achieved. If he never played in the NFL again, his career would end with 4 Super Bowl rings, 4 All-Pros, and 5 Pro Bowl appearances.

Gronkowski told Laine: “Every time I step on the football field, I leave everything I have. “If it’s training time, or if it’s a game, and if I’m not feeling my best during the match or practice, I still give everything that I have each time. So it’s not like I’m looking back, you know, wishing, ‘Dude, I should have done that. I should do this. ‘ I mean, there are certain things you’re going to change. I mean, but that’s learned. That’s how you learn in life. Next time, change it.”

“But I definitely feel like I’m done. … I feel like I’ve done an excellent job in my career, and really, it turned out better than I ever thought possible,” added Gronkowski.

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