The New England Patriots‘ legendary TE Rob Gronkowski won 4 Super Bowls in his career, 3 with the Foxborough team. But the third Super Bowl (LIII) would have been difficult if their defensive tackle Lawrence Guy had not given his all against the LA Rams. So, when the veteran DT hung up his shoes from the sport, the NFL legend had to give him his stars.

On Friday, October 24, Gronk shared an Instagram story with a photo including both Guy and him. But his caption stole everyone’s attention. “Congrats on retiring as a Patriot this weekend. Well deserved. Always good to see a Sun Devil and Arizona WildCat get along,” he wrote while tagging Guy and the Patriots.

For context, Guy is a Sun Devils’ product, while Gronk played for the Cats during their college days. But now, as Guy has ended his NFL career, Gronk made sure to personally meet him. In return, the defensive man also took some time to share a few words on his former team.

The DT signed a one-day contract with the AFC East franchise on October 24 to retire as a Patriot. Guy was all smiles during the press conference as he thanked the team. “I want to thank the Patriots organization and (Robert Kraft), it’s a full circle moment. I wanted to (retire) in New England because New England was my home. It’s a blessing that I get to be here to do this,” Guy said while describing his journey.

Although he considers himself blessed to be with the Patriots, what Guy did on the field for Rob Gronkowski and his men was perhaps more legendary.

In Super Bowl LII loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, the DT recorded 6 tackles. So, they were pumped up for their LIII game. He was already in form with 59 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble in the 16 games of the regular season. He contributed with his 2 tackles and 1 QB hit in the SB matchup. Rob Gronkowski won his 3rd trophy, while it remains the only championship of his career with the Pats.

When others came to know about his retirement, they also paid tribute. Patriots veteran safety Devin McCourty also shared an IG story with a one-word message. “Congrats @thatlguy”, he wrote. McCourty’s brother, Jason, who also played in Super Bowl LIII, also wrote, “Congrats my guy,” on his IG story.

Over 13 years, Lawrence Guy performed at a high level, making his name in the league.

Rob Gronkowski’s former teammate had a distinguished career

The Green Bay Packers selected Lawrence Guy in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft. His early years were challenging, with injuries and team changes testing his resolve, but his persistence helped him carve out a long and respected career in the league.

At the Packers (2011), he spent most of his rookie season on injured reserve. He then joined the Indianapolis Colts (2012), where he recorded his first career sack. After that, he had a short but solid stint with the San Diego Chargers (2013) before moving to the Baltimore Ravens (2014–2016). In Baltimore, Guy became a steady force on the defensive line, posting 46 tackles (29 solo) and 4.5 sacks in 2015.

Rob Gronkowski’s teammate had the longest and most successful stint with the New England Patriots (2017–2023). Under Bill Belichick, he became a crucial part of one of the NFL’s most disciplined defenses. He earned a place on the Patriots All-2010s Team for his consistency and leadership. Reflecting on that honor, Guy said, “It shows that a lot of hard work and dedication can lead to a lot of ways. It shows other people that were in my shoes….that they can achieve something if they put their mind to it.”

Guy last played for the Cincinnati Bengals (2024) before retiring on October 24, 2025, as a Patriot.

In over 170 games, Guy recorded 509 tackles (271 solo), 17 sacks, two forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries, along with 33 tackles (18 solo) and 1.5 sacks in 13 postseason games (9 starts).

Off the field, he founded the Lawrence Guy Family Foundation to support families and children in need, earning a Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination in 2022. In total, Guy earned about $31.2 million in his NFL career, most of it with the Patriots.

Now, he’s off to the next chapter of his life.